Musetti Clings to Turin Hopes in Athens Thriller
Lorenzo Musetti survived a match point scare to outlast Sebastian Korda in the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship semifinal, setting up a pivotal final against Novak Djokovic where a title could punch his ticket to the Nitto ATP Finals.
In the electric atmosphere of Athens, Lorenzo Musetti turned desperation into determination, saving a match point to edge past Sebastian Korda 6-0, 5-7, 7-5 and keep his bid for a Nitto ATP Finals debut alive. The 23-year-old Italian dominated early with a bagel set, his one-handed backhand carving precise angles on the medium-paced hard courts, but the contest soon evolved into a test of nerve as Korda's power pushed back. Every rally carried the weight of qualification stakes, with the crowd's rising energy mirroring the tension on court.
Clutch moments shift the momentum
Musetti absorbed Korda's flat groundstrokes in the second set, using crosscourt exchanges to control the tempo and force unforced errors, yet he dropped it 7-5 as fatigue crept in. Down 4-5 in the decider at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship, he faced match point on his serve, the ball's path hanging in the balance until an ace down the T sealed the hold and ignited the Greek fans. That spark propelled him to break Korda in the next game, an inside-out forehand clipping the line to swing the match decisively, his fist pump echoing the relief of a season on the brink.
"I think we both played a fantastic match," Musetti said after his two-hour, 20-minute win. "The level was getting higher and the adrenaline was intense. I am super happy with the attitude I showed on court and the spirit I am trying to put in every day. Achieving the final here is really important and I am already focusing on tomorrow."
Djokovic awaits in high-stakes final
Now into his eighth tour-level final, Musetti confronts Novak Djokovic on Saturday, the Serb holding an 8-1 head-to-head advantage that underscores the tactical chasm ahead. Djokovic's return game thrives on these surfaces, pressuring early in the one–two pattern, but Musetti plans to counter with underspin slices to disrupt rhythm and create openings for down-the-line strikes. Chasing his third ATP title and first since Naples in 2022, after runner-up finishes in Barcelona and Chengdu this year, the Italian's adaptability—blending topspin loops with sharp angles—will be key to turning the tables.
Korda concludes his season at 22-18, his powerful serves unable to sustain against Musetti's patient variations that exposed inconsistencies under pressure. The ATP 250 event's stakes amplify every point, as victory would displace Felix Auger-Aliassime from the eighth spot in the race to Turin, landing the winner in the Bjorn Borg Group alongside Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Ben Shelton. As the Athens night settles, Musetti's focus sharpens on mental resets, the crowd's fervor a backdrop to a clash that could redefine his path.
Qualification path demands perfection
For Musetti, this final represents more than silverware; it's the gateway to a dream debut at the prestigious season finale in his home country, where group play tests resilience against elite competition. The hard courts here reward controlled aggression, allowing his backhand to skid low with underspin and pull opponents off balance, a tactic honed to challenge Djokovic's all-court precision. With the draw set and the spotlight intensifying, his semifinal grit hints at the resolve needed to navigate the psychological duel ahead, potentially transforming a grinding year into a breakthrough moment.
