Jannik Sinner’s Barcelona Open run halted by illness, Lorenzo Musetti into semi-final

Shahida Jacobs
Jannik Sinner during a match
Jannik Sinner in action

There will be no Jannik Sinner-Lorenzo Musetti rematch at the Barcelona Open as the former withdrew from their quarter-final encounter as he is under the weather.

The Italian pair squared off at the Monte Carlo Masters last week and Sinner came out on top with a 6-2, 6-2 victory and compatriots were due to face each other again in the last eight in the Spanish city on Friday.

Fourth seed Sinner defeated Yoshihito Nishioka from Japan in three sets on Thursday to book his place in the quarter-final despite feeling unwell, but the illness has taken its toll as the 21-year-old has pulled out of the ATP 500 event.

“Sad to have to withdraw from my match today in Barcelona. I’ve been feeling unwell for a few days now,” the world No 8 wrote on Twitter.

“Today the sickness got worse and I’m not able to play. I’ll take some time to rest and recover. Thanks for all your support & good luck to Lorenzo for the rest of the event 🙏🏼🦊”

His withdrawal meant Musetti, who upset seventh seed Cameron Norrie in the third round, will play in the semi-final in Barcelona for the first time in his career.

Musetti, who reached the quarter-final in Monte Carlo after upsetting world No 1 Novak Djokovic, reached the third round last year and the second round during his debut appearance in 2021.

The 21-year-old will face either second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or eighth seed Alex de Minaur in the semi-final.

Musetti is already assured of returning to a career-high No 18 in the ATP Rankings on the back of his run to the last four while a win on Saturday could see him move up to No 16.

Sinner, meanwhile, looks set to stay at No 8 in the ATP Rankings, but it brings an end to a run of five consecutive semi-final appearances on the tour. The Italian won the Open Sud de France in mid-February and finished runner-up in Rotterdam and Miami while he fell in the semi-finals in Indian Wells and Monte Carlo.

READ MORE: Novak Djokovic on board the Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner rivalry hype train

Related Articles