Lorenzo Musetti in Milan 2022
The curtain falls for Italian tennis in Milan. Lorenzo Musetti also leaves the stage in the groups of the NextGen ATP Finals 2022. In the last and decisive match of Round Robin, the Tuscan was clearly defeated by the British Jack Draper with a score of 4-1 4-0 4-3 in just 57 minutes of game. Very well Draper, in all areas of the game: excellent serve, deep with the response, very intense and precise in the exchange, he continually moved the blue, bringing him to play at very high rates and practically did nothing wrong. Mistakes are rare, no wrong tactical choice. An absolutely level match, in which he showed what kind of player he can becometerribly uncomfortable to deal with because it is complete both when pushing and defending.
Excellent Draper, but Musetti played a disappointing game. Certainly tired (and probably with some discomfort in his leg), he made many mistakes, especially with the forehand, often arriving slightly late on the ball. The final scoreboard indicates 23 winners and only 5 errors for Draper, 10 winners and 23 errors for Musetti. Unequivocal numbers that dryly explain the progress of the match. Draper dominated, in his games he was practically not played, and with deep answers and excellent geometries he continually moved the blue, often slamming him in the right corner and causing his errors in recovery. Musetti was initially a bit overwhelmed, he did not find the key to reverse the inertia, paying off in the exchanges. Jack’s defenses were superior to Lorenzo’s attempts to build and vary. Nor did the service help him like in the best days. He tried to change pace in the third set, risking a lot of bunks (maybe too many) and working with the backhand, but he was too wrong, so much so that his best points came with some good runs to the net. Perhaps he should have tried the net first, but in the tiebreak of the third set Draper made the decisive extension, deserving the success and access to the semifinals.
Unfortunately, the groups close without any Italians in the semifinals. Given the three blues at the start, it is a disappointing result.
Marco Mazzoni
The chronicle
Draper begins the match at the bar. He pushes hard with the forehand, his best shot. With a double fault and then an Ace, the Briton wins the first game. Musetti’s start is more uncertain, an error, a too docile descent to the net, he immediately collapses 0-30, with the NGF rules it is already a critical situation. An error with the right in exchange costs the blue two break points (plus possibly killer points). He clings to the serve, two excellent firsts lead him to parity. Excellent serve and volley from the right, closed with a very secure backhand touch. 1 even. From 0-30, Draper guesses a couple of excellent plays, such as the splendid straight long line which earns him the fourth point in a row, and the 2-1. Draper responds well, forces Musetti’s mistakes, who still finds himself 0-30. Again she is the first on duty to bring him back to the surface. Lorenzo gives in in a long exchange on 30 all, the right flies away. Break ball for Draper. Another long exchange, chasing the British very well, very solid, in the end it is the blue who risks a straight long line that comes out long and wide. Break Draper, serves for the first set ahead 3-1. Too many mistakes with the forehand tonight, he hits the ball badly from the center, perhaps a little less quick in the search for the ball with his feet compared to the last period. Draper thanks, serves a “brick” and goes to double Set Point on 40-15. Wonderful point of Jack, opens to the whole corner with the backhand and closes with a forehand in the open corner. 4-1 Draper, much more solid and effective the “Brit”, too many mistakes for Lorenzo.
Musetti starts the second set to serve. Bad start, still right out. He throws a big blow with the racket on Lorenzo’s leg, as if to say “come on, move”. We arrive at the killer point. If he plays attacking, but does not fly out and the high backhand volley (difficult) ends wide. Break Draper, 1-0. “We do what we can” says Lorenzo in his corner. Jack is a “machine”, from behind he pulls hard and precise, opening the corner a lot, Musetti is forced to run a lot to the right, and returning at full speed he slides to the ground, luckily no problem. Draper goes 2-0 to zero and continues to push with enormous effectiveness with his backhand, always deep and precise. Lorenzo is in obvious difficulty, when he tries to change pace he makes too many mistakes. Collapses 0-40, two balls for the double break. An inside out backhand from the center of the blue at 15-40 costs him a double break. 3-0 Draper. With an impressive, loose-arm forehand, Jack closes 4-0. Eight games to one, no matches so far.
Third set. Musetti opens by finally winning a good game, finally trying to vary more. Draper continues to hammer hard, not even so fast but with incredible precision. With 3 aces, he brings 1 all. The forehand betrays Lorenzo again, a cue on leaving the serve (against a very solid response from his rival) costs him a dangerous 15-30. If he plays it with courage, forward and touch of perfect cross flight. An error with the right of the Tuscan, with the ball deflected from the tape, condemns him to 30-40, double break point. With so many mistakes from the bottom, unable to keep up with Draper’s pressure, he throws himself in and closes. With an excellent first, Musetti repels the assault and goes 2-1. Unplayable Draper in his games, but now Musetti has raised the level, he can find the change of pace, the damped, the first winner. At zero he wins the best game of the match, moving 3-2. Jack does not skid, it goes to the tiebreak. Lorenzo starts very badly, he looks for a short ball when he comes off the serve, but the execution is completely wrong. 1-0 Draper and service. He tries again in the second point “Muzzle”, a daring exchange, but misses the touch on a run-up and “heavy” forehand by the British. 2-0. Finally a nice winner with the forehand for Lorenzo, a well built point in response, he serves 2-1 underneath. Still the short ball, this time the blue wins the point, 2 all. An error in the exchange of the blue brings back Draper, 3-2. Here is Lorenzo’s exclamation point: backhand from the center along a sumptuous line, an impregnable trajectory. It turns on 3 all. Ace Draper, 4-3. Jack was very good at resuming the damping and moving very fast under the net, finding an impregnable reverse. 5-3. With a good advance of right, we are 6-3 Draper, 3 Match Point, in the service. Ace! It ends in first place, after only 57 minutes. A clear defeat, which condemns the blue to exit in the groups. The Briton was too intense and effective, thus qualifying for the semi-finals of the NextGen ATP Finals 2022, against the American Nakashima. Three blues in the race, all out in the groups. Unfortunately the balance for Italian tennis in this edition is negative.
ATP Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals
Lorenzo Musetti [2]1
0
3
Jack Draper [3]4
4
4
Winner: Draper
