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The young Italian Lorenzo Musetti was defeated by the equally young Frenchman Luca Van Assche, in the second round of the Australian Open 2024. A bad setback, especially considering the scoring situation, for the Italian player who was unable to give continuity to the first round victory against Bonzi.
Mussetti was able to react to the lost first set, even taking the lead with the third set tie-break. However, the inertia on the Italian’s side suddenly shifted towards the Frenchman, who did not let go and, with a 10-0 run, completely turned the match around, moreover with a bagel in the decisive fifth set.
A defeat that stings for the 21-year-old Italian, who recently added Corrado Barazzutti to the team to achieve improvements and return higher in the standings. Naturally, it will be necessary to give time to the former Italian Davis Cup captain, together with coach Simone Tartarini, to intervene and work on the different aspects of Musetti’s game, who will then have to put the lessons to good use to achieve important results.
Paolo Bertolucci rips Lorenzo Musetti
Paolo Bertolucci, former Italian tennis star and now commentator for Sky Sort, analyzed the Italian athlete’s defeat in Australia rather harshly: “Without the complete availability of the player the coach cannot have an impact and the defects remain.”
Responding to fans’ comments, he added: “You have to be convinced of the change to be made and then follow the instructions received without the slightest hesitation.”
Senza la completa disponibilità del giocatore il coach non può incidere e i difetti rimangono @Lorenzo1Musetti
— paolo bertolucci (@paolobertolucci) January 17, 2024
“It was a very tough and fought match from the start. I didn’t start well unlike my opponent; then I managed to find the rhythm and the game solutions to counter his tennis which today, honestly, for over three and a half hours was of a very high level.
Compliments must certainly also be given to my opponent. It’s a shame, because after winning the 3rd set in such a complicated way, with an important tie break, played well and with the right choices made at the right moments, it was certainly a positive moment for me. Unfortunately it is a period in which luck is not on my side, but sooner or later it will turn,” said Musetti at the press-conference.
