Lorenzo Musetti only beaten by Nadal & Djokovic in incredible clay-court stat after French Open run

Oli Dickson Jefford 03 Jun 2025 6:07 PM

Lorenzo Musetti celebrates after a win.

Lorenzo Musetti achieved an impressive clay-court feat only bettered by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as he soared into his first French Open semi-final.

Eighth seed Musetti battled past 15th seed Frances Tiafoe and windy conditions to extend his best-ever run at Roland Garros, prevailing 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 inside Court Philippe Chatrier.

The world No 7 sealed a decisive break at the end of the third set and dominated the decider to seal victory.

“Frances, I think he didn’t start as he wanted, but today was really complicated to play well,” reflected Musetti on-court.

“It was so windy, and it was really difficult to manage to hit the ball properly. Especially the third set, it was really a fight. It was not easy to get a break.

“Even if I was a little bit tired and it was tough for me there, but I found the extra energy to win this [third] set and the last set was probably the best set of this match.”

Musetti is now in his second Grand Slam semi-final, having made the last four on the grass courts of Wimbledon in 2025.

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He is now one of just three Italian men in the Open Era to have reached Grand Slam semi-finals on multiple surfaces, joining contemporaries Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini.

Sinner has reached Grand Slam semi-finals on all three surfaces and at all four majors, while Berrettini has reached major semi-finals on both grass and hard courts.

Musetti’s run in Roland Garros has continued what has been a hugely impressive clay swing.

He reached the final of the Monte Carlo Masters back in April, and then reached back-to-back semi-finals at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.

Aged 23 years and 83 days, Musetti is the third youngest man since 1990 to reach the semi-final of all three clay Masters events and then Roland Garros in the same season.

The only men younger than Musetti to achieve that are Nadal (2007) and Djokovic (2008).

Musetti has soared up towards the top of the game over the past twelve months, coming into Roland Garros this year as a top-eight seed at a Grand Slam for the first time.

And, speaking on court after his match, he revealed the heartwarming reason for his success.

Musetti credited the birth of his son Ludovico in March 2024 as the key to his new focus, with partner Veronica Confalonieri currently expecting their second child.

He said: “I guess it’s kind of the process of growing, not just inside the court but especially off the court.

“Last year, I became a father. I think that gave me an extra responsibility. I think now I approach things in a more professional way, not just on the court, but in the daily routine.

“It’s really important for me to be in order when I practice, especially even in my free time. I enjoy so much my time with my family.

“Even if they’re not here, they’re always with me inside my heart. I think this win is for them.”