ATP Tour

Musetti, Zverev strengthen Turin bids with tricky opening wins in Vienna

Lorenzo Musetti was not thrown off by an unexpected late change of opponent on Tuesday at the Erste Bank Open, where the Italian eased past Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-3 to kick-start his campaign at the ATP 500.

Saturday’s draw in Vienna had pitched fourth seed Musetti against Stefanos Tsitsipas, but the Greek was forced to withdraw shortly before the match due to a back injury. The 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion Medjedovic stepped up to play as a lucky loser, but Musetti shut down the Serbian’s powerful game with a classy 79-minute display.

“There was a late switch, but of course I think I managed well to focus on my things and what I have to do when I step on the court,” said Musetti after his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Medjedovic. “I think it was a solid performance. Nothing special, but definitely what I needed in these moments, to stay solid and stay focused.

“I had a really great attitude today after the beginning was a little bit nervous. It was a great reaction, and that is what we are focusing on, and then I think the tennis will come.”

Now 39-17 for the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Musetti will take on Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round after the Argentine defeated #NextGenATP star Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-3, 6-3. Musetti, who is currently eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, seeks a deep run in Vienna in order to bolster his chances of securing a Nitto ATP Finals debut.

Alexander Zverev was pushed to the brink by British qualifier Jacob Fearnley but came through with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5) victory. Fearnley threatened to earn his first Top 10 win in six attempts but was turned back by the second seed in a high-quality third set.

Sascha finding his way through 😮‍💨@AlexZverev | @ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/kmwg3cQETv

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The only break chance of the final set doubled as match point for Zverev at 5-4, but Fearnley fought it off with an aggressive play. Undeterred, Zverev never trailed in the tie-break and clinched victory on his fourth match point.

"The tie-break was so close and the whole set was so close. He played unbelievable in important moments," said Zverev, who could pass the already-qualified Novak Djokovic for third place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin with a deep run this week. "I had match point. He hit a great first serve, a great forehand winner straight away. 

"So, I mean, yes, it was 7-6 in the third, but I can't really blame myself too much in the third set. In the second set, yeah, I lost energy a little bit, but the third set was a fantastic level and I'm happy to go through."

Andrey Rublev’s outside hopes of reaching the Nitto ATP Finals for the sixth consecutive year suffered a significant blow when the seventh seed tumbled to an early exit in Vienna. Cameron Norrie produced a fast start and fast finish to prevail 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-2 against Rublev, who is 15th in the Live Race, and level the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 3-3.

Home favourite Filip Misolic and Francisco Cerundolo were also first-round winners on Tuesday in the Austrian capital. Wild card Misolic downed Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5, 7-6(6) to set a meeting with third seed Alex de Minaur. Misolic has risen nine spots to No. 86 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings by reaching the second round on home soil, setting him up to surpass his career high of No. 92 in next Monday’s edition of the PIF ATP Rankings.

Argentine Cerundolo overcame Alex Michelsen 6-3, 6-1. He will next face eighth seed Alexander Bublik for a quarter-final spot.