Musetti seizes debut chance in Turin's finals
Novak Djokovic's injury withdrawal opens the door for Lorenzo Musetti to make his Nitto ATP Finals bow, thrusting the Italian into a pressure-cooker group alongside a compatriot and reshaping the season's endgame.
In the shadow of the Alps, as November's chill settles over Turin, the Nitto ATP Finals prepare for their annual ritual of elite showdowns on indoor hard courts. Lorenzo Musetti, the 23-year-old with a one-handed backhand that slices through defenses like a scalpel, steps into the fray for the first time, replacing Novak Djokovic after the Serb's shoulder injury forced a painful exit. This direct acceptance into the Jimmy Connors Group catapults Musetti from a career-best season into the event's unforgiving round-robin format, where every point echoes with legacy and ambition.
Season's surge fuels debut fire
Musetti's breakthrough year has been a masterclass in persistence, starting with his first ATP Masters 1000 final on Monte-Carlo's clay, where he mixed crosscourt topspin with underspin approaches to disrupt rhythms. That form propelled him to semifinals in Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros, each deep run on the red dirt sharpening his tactical patience—extending rallies until opponents cracked under the weight of his angled returns. Transitioning to hard courts, he reached the US Open quarterfinals, battling through humid nights with inside-out forehands that exploited court lines, before pushing to finals in Chengdu and Athens, and a Vienna semifinal, all while climbing toward top-10 contention.
These results not only secured his spot but highlighted his evolution from clay-court poet to all-surface threat, the indoor speed of Turin now testing his ability to blend slice defenses with aggressive 1–2 combinations against power baselines.
I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best but after today’s final in Athens, I’m sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury. I’m truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play — your support means so much. I wish all the players an amazing tournament, and I can’t wait to be back on the court with you all soon!
Group shifts echo Italian milestones
Djokovic's departure, which ties him with Roger Federer at 18 qualifications for the Nitto ATP Finals, leaves a tactical vacuum in the Jimmy Connors Group that Musetti must navigate with quick footwork and varied pace. Alexander Bublik, elevated to first alternate, adds unpredictability with his flat serves and drop-shot surprises, potentially forcing the Italian into net rushes or down-the-line counters to stay ahead in short points. The medium-fast indoors favor Musetti's low-bouncing underspin, yet demand sharper returns to neutralize wide serves slicing into his backhand corner.
This edition marks a historic first for Italy, with two singles players qualifying together—Musetti joining Jannik Sinner after Matteo Berrettini 's 2021 entry ended in a round-robin withdrawal that handed Sinner an alternate role. The shared national spotlight amplifies the Pala Alpitour's roar, chants building like mounting pressure in a tiebreak, as Musetti eyes matchups where his fluid style could unsettle grinders through crosscourt patterns and timely volleys.
Turin tests resolve under lights
Under the arena's glare, Musetti's debut will hinge on channeling Athens' elation into composed aggression, his serve varying depth to set up inside-in forehands against right-handers who crowd the baseline. The round-robin grind mirrors his season's tempo—endurance battles blending mental steel with physical tweaks for the court's grip—while home support pulses through every winner, potentially sparking upsets that cement his rise. With Bublik waiting in the wings and Sinner leading the charge, Musetti stands poised to turn this unexpected entry into a defining statement, the air thick with the promise of breakthroughs yet to come.
