Italian Next Gen star Lorenzo Musetti followed his first ATP Tour title in Hambug with a 6-2 3-6 6-1 win over Aljaz Bedene at the Plava Croatia Open in Umag.
Musetti earned an early break at the start of the first set and won nine of his ten points to open up a 2-0 lead. The Italian player earned a break point in the seventh game with a passing shot and converted it on his third break point, when Bedene sent his drop shot into the net. Musetti held his serve easily to seal the first set 6-2.
Musetti started the second set with an immediate break to take a 1-0 lead. Bedene broke straight back from 40-15 down in the second game to draw level to 1-1. The Slovenian player broke for the second game in the fourth game and held on his serve with a down the line forehand to take a 4-1 lead. Bedene won his next service games to seal the second set 6-3.
Musetti broke at the start of the third set to take a 2-0 lead, as Bedene sent his forehand into the net. Bedene broke back in the third game. Musetti broke for the second time in the fourth game and held serve to open up a 4-1 lead. Musetti earned his third break in the sixth game and served out the win at love with an ace.
Musetti set up an all-Italian second round match against Marco Cecchinato, who beat world number 537 Mili Poljcak 6-1 5-7 6-2. Sonego beat Cecchinato in five sets in the third round at Roland Garros.
“I think I learnt a lot from last week. I think I grew up as a human being, as a professional player. There were a lot of difficult moments in this match, but I arrived in a positive way. That’s why I won today, because Aljaz was playing really good, especially in the second set and the beginning of the third. So it was not easy to find a way to break his game”, said Musetti.
