Lorenzo Musetti on Monday joined Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. It is the first time since Roland Garros in 1948 that Italy has had three players in this stage of a slam.
World number 22 Musetti beat Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (No.58 Atp) 4-6 6-3 6-2.
Musetti fell flat on his back in relief, overwhelmed by achieving his dream of reaching a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time. As he tried to speak afterward, he struggled to find the words. This moment, a culmination of his dreams, had finally come true.
“It’s tough for me to get emotional, but today I think I will. I’ve been dreaming about this moment…” he began, before choking up. He tried again: “Since I was a kid, I always had a really beautiful family that supported me in chasing my dream…” And then he was overcome with emotion once more.
Gathering himself, he continued: “I have to thank first of all Simone [Tartarini, his coach]. Without him, none of this would be possible. And I want to thank my family, my girlfriend Veronica – she’s up there [pointing to the players’ box]…” before his emotions got the best of him again.
It was clear that Musetti was overjoyed, describing the experience as “a phenomenal day for me.”
Paolini defeats injured Keys
In the women’s singles, Paolini’s is also in the last eight after American Madison Keys retired hurt while set for victory in the final set of their clash on Sunday.
As thunder boomed overhead, a spectacular seesaw battle unfolded in which Keys fought back from a set and a break down to stand on the brink of her third career Wimbledon quarter-final.
However, a hamstring strain left her weeping in pain, and from a 5-2 lead in the third set, she was all but helpless. With the score at 5-5, she realized her cause was lost and retired, allowing Paolini to advance to her maiden appearance in the last eight at Wimbledon.
“Right now I’m so sorry for her,” the Italian told the crowd. “To end the match like this is bad. It was a really good tough match. A lot of up and downs. I feel a bit happy and a bit sad for her. It’s not easy to win like that.
“It was a rollercoaster. I started really well but she’s a great champion. I was telling myself you never know in tennis. She retired, and I’m here with the win.”
She faces another American, Emma Navarro, who dispatched no.2 seed Coco Gauff in the quarters.
Sinner eases past Shelton
Wimbledon 2024 is the seventh Slam with two Italians in the quarters in men’s singles.
World number one Sinner will face Russian Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon after easing past 14th-seeded American Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(9) on Sunday.
It will be a rematch of this year’s Australian Open final when 22-year-old Sinner came from two sets down to win his first Grand Slam title.
