Hamburg Champ Musetti Stays Hot In Umag

Fresh off winning his first ATP Tour title in Hamburg, #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti remained in top form at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag on Tuesday. The 20-year-old earned a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win against Slovakia’s Aljaz Bedene.

“I think I learned a lot from last week,” Musetti said post-match. “I think I grew up as a human being, as a professional player. There were a lot of difficult moments in this match, but I arrived in a positive way.

“That’s why I won today, because Aljaz was playing really good, especially in the second set and the beginning of the third. So it was not easy for me to find a way to break his game.”

Entering Umag at a career-high of No. 31 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Musetti picked up where he left off in his Hamburg final victory against Carlos Alcaraz. The Italian eased to the opening set as he showcased his variety from all parts of the court before Bedene snapped back in the second set, overcoming an early break deficit as he hit through the court with his power game.

The men traded breaks early in the deciding set, but it was all Musetti down the stretch. The Italian won the final four games in convincing fashion, finishing the match with a delicate drop shot to close out a love hold. After requiring six match points to dismiss Alcaraz in Hamburg, one was enough for Musetti in Umag.

“I came yesterday [to Umag] so it was not easy to rest and to to recover at 100 per cent,” Musetti said. “I wasn’t sure about my physical condition but I’m very happy about the win.”

The eighth seed can now look ahead to an all-Italian second-round match against Marco Cecchinato, who was a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 winner against Mili Poljicak on Monday. Musetti won their lone previous ATP Head2Head meeting in five sets at Roland Garros in 2021. Earlier this season, the Italians teamed up for the doubles event in Marrakech.

“It’s a friendly derby,” Musetti previewed. “We are really close friends. He’s one of my best friends on Tour… I’m happy to share the court with him and have a fun battle with him.”

Fifth seed Alex Molcan also advanced on Tuesday with a 6-2, 7-6(2) win against Duje Ajdukovic. Slovakia’s Molcan, a three-time tour-level finalist, is seeking his first title this week.

In a see-saw match that featured 10 breaks of serve in 20 games, Molcan was six of eight on his break chances, winning more than half of return points against both first and second serves. From 3-0 in the opening set, seven straight games went against serve.

He next faces Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena, a 6-4, 7-5 winner against Henri Laaksonen on Monday.

France’s Corentin Moutet scored a 6-4, 6-2 upset against sixth seed Daniel Altmaier to set up a second-round meeting with Facundo Bagnis. The Argentine earned a 7-5, 6-3 victory against countryman Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Tuesday.

Second seed Jannik Sinner (vs. Jaume Munar) and third seed Casper Ruud (vs. Bernabe Zapata Miralles) open their Umag campaigns on Wednesday, with top seed Carlos Alcaraz (vs. Norbert Gombos) and fourth seed Sebastian Baez (vs. Laslo Djere or Franco Agamenone) set to open play on Thursday.