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Musetti and Ruud Prevail in Hamburg, Gstaad Finals
2 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
Lorenzo Musetti has reemerged today with a sensational Hamburg final win vs Carlos Alcaraz 64 67 64. The first ATP title for the 20 year old Italian was earned the hard way as Alcaraz saved five championship points in the second set, two in the 5-4 game and then three more in the tiebreaker.
Showing the supreme prowess that dominated world no. 1 Novak Djokovic for two sets at Roland Garros last year, Musetti maintained his composure and focus and finally prevailed over the relentless 19 year old Spaniard in set three. Musetti will climb to 31 in the ATP rankings, Alcaraz to no. 5.
The final point of the match was Alcaraz hitting a backhand too long on the sixth championship point. It was the first meeting between the two future Grand Slam champions.
“Of course I was really upset, but I tried to not show my opponent my reaction. I tried to forgive[ myself for] all the match points and all the points [when] I couldn’t do it,” Musetti said. “I think that was the most [important] thing, even for me, because I didn’t expect the win after all this roller-coaster, so I’m super happy to be here and to be the champion.”
The match was of a spectacular quality, both players pulverizing offensive forehands, backhands, with outrageous court coverage and defense and also plenty of touch finesse tennis around the net. After seeing this match the conclusion is there is absolutely no doubt both of these dynamos will win Grand Slams.
In Gstaad, Casper Ruud also needed three sets to beat Matteo Berrettini 46 76 62. Ruud now has won nine ATP titles, including eight on clay. Ruud is now a perfect 16-0 in ATP tournaments in Switzerland, he also won two times in Geneva to match his two in Gstaad. All nine of the 2022 Roland Garros finalist’s titles have been in ATP 250s.
Ruud, despite the win, will drop to no. 6 in the world, behind new no. 5 Alcaraz.
Also this week, it was announced Novak Djokovic will join the Federer, Nadal, Murray team in Laver Cup, to face a team of assorted elite ATP players.
Stefan Kozlov lost in Atlanta qualies 6`1 60 to Rankumar Ramanathan. Also in Atlanta qualies, wildcard Donald Young, now ranked in the 600 range, defeated JJ Wolf but lost today to Dominik Koepfer 61 46 63.
ATP · Casper Ruud · Lorenzo Musetti
Cory · July 26, 2022 at 3:53 am
You got the feeling, watching, that Musetti would have to win on a return game (or return point, if match TB). Also interestingly, Musetti goes on to to lose that 2nd set after winning that critical point during the 2nd set TB playing a double bounce. Alcaraz was livid – and perhaps Musetti knew it and choked the next x number of points to give away the straight sets win. He showed good mental toughness to stay focused in set 3.
Young choked against Koepfer. Koepfer too solid. Young was up a break in the 3rd, and if memory serves, had a break point for a double-break lead and couldn’t convert and proceeded to gift away the match.
Ramanathan seems to own Kozlov. The former’s style of play can choke opponents, dictating play and forcing them into uncomfortable point-ending passing shots. What a joke to not even win more than 1 game tho.
Scoop Malinowski · July 26, 2022 at 7:49 am
Cory, very impressed by what Musetti showed, Let’s now see if he can show consistency in his big results. Saw Koepfer annihilate Ryan Harrison at US Open qualies a few years ago like 61 60. For Young to be in that match ranked 630 something is a sign of hope for him. Maybe at 32 there is one last hurrah left. Kozlov is on the verge of his career best ranking but suddenly is playing bad tennis.