Top seed Lorenzo Musetti moved one step closer to claiming his first title of the season across all levels Friday. The 22-year-old led a charge of five Italians to reach the quarter-finals at the ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Turin.
The World No. 29 in the PIF ATP Rankings earned a 6-4, 6-3 victory against David Goffin, who was pulling double duty after downing Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas 7-5, 6-4 earlier in the day at the Piemonte Open Intesa Sanpaolo. Musetti countered the Belgian's all-court coverage with heavy hitting and wore down the former No. 7 by staying consistent in key moments.
"It was a tough battle, even if the score says 6-4, 6-3," Musetti said in Italian. "[David] is a very tough opponent, especially for a player like me. He returns well, with a position close to the baseline, so he can be immediately aggressive and he can make damage with his serve. I was brave in the right moments, going for my shots. For me this is an important win. I’m here to try to win my first title of 2024."
Shadow play 💡
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 17, 2024
No.1 seed Lorenzo Musetti delivers a straight set victory over Goffin 6-4, 6-3 in Turin#ATPChallenger | @federtennis | @Lorenzo1Musetti pic.twitter.com/pBPQS55NU2
Musetti, a finalist at this month's ATP Challenger Tour 175 tournament in Cagliari, next faces Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves in the last eight. The winner will then return to court in the evening for a semi-final match due to rain in Turin hindering play all week.
Musetti is joined in the quarter-finals by four countrymen including fourth seed Lorenzo Sonego, who rallied past Federico Coria 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Third seed Matteo Arnaldi defeated Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4 and fifth seed Luciano Darderi overcame Marc-Andrea Huesler 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Italian wild card Francesco Passaro beat Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5, 7-6(4) and American Brandon Nakashima ousted second seed Mariano Navone 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Bordeaux Challenger
China's Shang Juncheng is poised to make his Top 100 debut in Monday's PIF ATP Rankings after he booked his semi-final spot Friday at the BNP Paribas Primrose.
The #NextGenATP teen, up to No. 93 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, stormed past fifth seed Daniel Evans 7-6(4), 6-4 to reach the last four. Shang will next meet second seed Pedro Martinez.
Top seed Arthur Fils beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6(2), 6-3 to advance to the semi-finals. The 19-year-old Frenchman fended off six break points when serving for the match to set an all-French semi-final against Gregoire Barrere.
Shang Juncheng advances to the Bordeaux Challenger semi-finals. Credit: BNP Paribas Primrose
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