Musetti crosses Djokovic hurdle

MONTE CARLO, April 13

Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record-extending 39th Masters trophy was prolonged today after the world No. 1 fell to a 4-6 7-5 6-4 defeat at the hands of Lorenzo Musetti in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Djokovic’s last meeting with Musetti on clay was a gruelling Roland Garros clash in 2021, in which he battled back from two sets down to win, but this time it was the Italian that claimed a comeback victory in windy conditions.

Both players struggled on their serve in a contest littered with 15 breaks of serve, but Djokovic appeared to have the match in hand as he comfortably took the first set.

However, Musetti refused to go down without a fight and the Italian stepped on the gas in the second set to level the topsy-turvy encounter.

Not even a lengthy halt in play due to rain could dampen Musetti’s momentum, and the 21-year-old once again took advantage of a weak serving performance from Djokovic to break and take the win.

Jannik Sinner was made to toil by Hubert Hurkacz as the Italian seventh seed saved a matchpoint to seal a 3-6 7-6(6) 6-1 victory and book his spot in the quarterfinals.

German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff earlier stunned fourth seed Casper Ruud 6-1 7-6(6), ending the Estoril champion’s nine-match winning streak on clay stretching back to last July.

Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Nicolas Jarry 6-3 6-4. Italian Matteo Berrettini earlier withdrew from his meeting with sixth seed Holger Rune due to an abdominal injury, sending the Danish teenager through to the last-eight. — Reuters