Musetti Advances to the Quarterfinals in Washington
The Italian wins in three sets—it's his comeback after months on the sidelines due to injury
Washington – Lorenzo Musetti has reached the quarterfinals at the ATP 500 tournament in the U.S. capital. The fourth-seeded Italian defeated Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in a hard-fought match. After just over two hours, Musetti converted his match point and advanced to the quarterfinals—an important step in a tournament that holds special significance for him.
Washington marks Musetti’s return to the tour after a lengthy forced break. At the Rome International in the spring, he suffered a thigh muscle injury that cost him the French Open and the entire grass-court season, including Wimbledon. The 24-year-old recently reported that he had come through rehab well; the medical findings are encouraging. His performance in Washington confirms this impression.
Even in his first match, Musetti faced a tough challenge and managed to defeat his compatriot Matteo Arnaldi. Against Vukic, after winning the first set, he hit a rough patch when the Australian took the second set. In the deciding set, however, the Italian kept his composure and earned a well-deserved victory.
For Musetti, this is already his fourth quarterfinal of the current season and his first ever in Washington. He is currently ranked somewhere between 14th and 15th in the world—despite his long hiatus, he has thus remained one of the highest-ranked Italians behind the world No. 1. In his bid to reach the semifinals, he will now face the winner of the match between a Spanish server and a seasoned Japanese veteran.
The tournament in Washington, played on hard courts, marks the start of the North American summer series for many pros, which traditionally culminates at the U.S. Open in New York. For Musetti, it’s not just about points and prize money, but above all about finding his rhythm and building confidence after his injury. His performance on the U.S. East Coast shows that he is well on his way back to the top.
