Lorenzo Musetti saved one match point to beat Sebastian Korda 6-0 5-7 7-5 in the semifinal of the ATP 250 tournament in Athens to keep alive his hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Musetti must win the final against 24-Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in Athens. Auger Aliassime currently holds the eighth qualifying spot in the ATP Live Race to Turin. If he wins the final in Athens, Musetti will land in the Bjorn Borg.
Musetti broke three times to take a bagel win in the first set, dropping just five points.
Musetti earned a break in the seventh game of the second set, but Korda broke straight back in the next game. Korda broke serve to love in the 12th game. Korda earned the first match point in the 10th game of the third set. Musetti ended a long rally by drawing Korda to the net with a drop shot and saved saved the match point with a lob. Musetti broke serve before saving a break point in his next service game. The Italian player broke again to win the third set in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Djokovic leads 8-1 in his nince head-to-head matches against Musetti. The Serbian player achieved his last semifinal win at the Geneva clay court tornament last May, when he went on to win the final beating Hubert Hurkacz achieving the 100th title of his career.
Musetti is aiming to win the third title of his career and the first since Neaples in 2022. The 23-year-old Italian player reached the final in Monte-Carlo and Chengdu and the semifinals in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros and the quarter finals a the US Open.
“I think we both played a fantastic match. The level was getting higher and the adrenaline was intense. I am super happy with the attitude I showed on court and the spirit I am trying to put in every day. Achieving the final here is really important and I am already focusing on tomorrow”, said Musetti.
