Lorenzo Musetti makes a confession about Jannik Sinner
Lorenzo Musetti, Italy’s number two, in an interview with The Big T podcast explained what still separates him from the top tennis players, particularly compatriot Jannik Sinner: “I wish I could be … more stable, in terms of ups and downs, especially emotionally. Because I have always been a person who gets very hot in the moment and has a lot of ups and downs. I’ve worked hard to deliver continuous performance as a high-level player. And that was probably the most important step forward I took last year.”
“In the past I’ve had a lot of good results, but never with that consistency. And that’s probably what Jannik does best. Obviously his level is always at the top.” Musetti takes Sinner’s continuity as an example: “Even if he drops, he never drops drastically. And that was probably my problem, mine and many Italian players’ problem.” The world No. 10 Azzurro will make his debut Friday night in Rome against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard: the match is scheduled after 8:30 p.m.
The Carrarino arrives at the Internazionali d’Italia with some less certainty than last season, when he reached the semifinals before being eliminated by Carlos Alcaraz. Musetti himself openly admitted, “I arrive here in Rome definitely with fewer matches than last year and with less confidence, no use hiding it.” A disarming honesty, balanced, however, by the knowledge that he can rely on a valuable factor: the warmth of the home crowd. “I would love to feel the affection of the fans, especially the younger ones: they are the ones who make me wake up every morning and who push me to always seek the best, as a player and as a boy.”
Inevitably, in the background of his reflection weighs the comparison with Sinner, who has raised the bar of expectations for all Italian tennis. As Musetti himself acknowledged, “The standard of judgment of people, fans and insiders has been raised a lot. Despite being No. 5 in the world, reaching the quarters in all the Slams and making two Slam semifinals, the first thing I feel is that Lorenzo Musetti has not won a title in four years.” A pressure the Tuscan has learned to live with, looking ahead with determination.
