Lorenzo Musetti fights back the tears after epic win over Novak Djokovic

James Richardson
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Lorenzo Musetti celebrates

Lorenzo Musetti could barely hold it together as he spoke after clinching the biggest win of his career to date over Novak Djokovic at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Musetti battled back from a set down to claim a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in wet and windy conditions.

He admitted after the match that it was very difficult to serve aggressively in the conditions, which meant the two men were left slugging it out in long rallies.

Musetti was delighted to win not just because he had claimed his first-ever win over the reigning world No 1 but because the result was achieved in difficult conditions.

After splitting the first two sets, rain suspended play with Djokovic leading 2-1 in the third, they would return though and it was Musetti who gained a crucial break.

“I am struggling not to cry,” Musetti said in his on-court interview.

“It is an emotional win because it was a really long match.

“Three-hour match and suspended by rain.

“It was not easy conditions because it was a little bit windy and cold. Not like we used to play in the recent days. I am really proud of myself and I can see on the screen. I am struggling not to cry because it is a dream for me.”

Musetti came back from 2-4 in the second set to equalize after he lost the first. The Italian hit his ground strokes with real venom and depth in the second set, forcing Djokovic into 11 errors across the frame, and then proceeded to play with great vigour and flair following a 59-minute rain delay at the start of the deciding to claim his second Top-five win of the season.

“I couldn’t find the right balance on [serve]. Particularly with the toss. I think we were returning better than serving,” Musetti said. “The rallies at the end were really intense and really long and it was a tough battle. Even for the physical and mental part. Beating Novak is something remarkable for me.”

Musetti’s next assignment is a meeting with compatriot Jannik Sinner in the last eight.

He has seemingly put his hard court struggles earlier in the term behind him but Musetti will need to be on his game once again to get past Sinner.

For just a little while though, Musetti was able to savour the massive win in front of a crowd that had a fai number of Italian supporters in it.

“I am just going to enjoy this win for at least half an hour and then I will rest, recover and be ready for the next battle with a friend and fellow Italian,” Musetti added.

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini missed out on the party on Thursday as injury forced him to withdraw from his last 16 match against Holger Rune.

READ MORE: Novak Djokovic vents his annoyance in press conference after shock defeat

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