Lorenzo Musetti is poised to crack the Top 50 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time behind his semi-final run at the Hamburg European Open. The 20-year-old defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 6-3 on Friday at the ATP 500 event to secure his best result of the 2022 season.
"I think I played one of the best matches of the year," he said after the victory against his close friend. "Really intense from the beginning and really focussed on each point. I think that was the key to get through with the win."
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Musetti has moved up 13 places to No. 49 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings this week; he could reach as high as No. 31 with the title. The Italian's career-high in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings is No. 51.
Entering Hamburg on a six-match tour-level losing streak, the #NextGenATP star has broken out of that slump in style. After dropping his opening set of the tournament against Dusan Lajovic, Musetti has now won six straight sets in Hamburg to book his semi-final place opposite Francisco Cerundolo.
"I was returning really good. I was hitting with full power every shot," said the Italian, who converted five of seven break points in the quarter-finals. "I was really confident. Sometimes it's like this, it's a joy to play.
"Sometimes you have to suffer for this, you have to work hard. Sometimes you have to sacrifice to have the achievements that you dream of. I'm dreaming really hard, so I will keep working hard too."
Entering the week fourth in the Pepperstone ATP Race To Milan, Musetti has strengthened his grip on a place in the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals by reaching his fourth career tour-level semi-final.
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