Musetti Eyes ATP Finals Amid Tough Season on Fast Courts
Lorenzo Musetti has had a fascinating 2025 so far. After a strong close to 2024—helping Italy defend the Davis Cup and clinching a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics—he entered the new season with high expectations. And, to be fair, he didn’t disappoint early on. He broke into the ATP top 10 for the first time and even reached his first-ever Masters 1000 final. His deep run to the French Open semi-finals was another huge milestone, adding to his Wimbledon semi-final appearance from the year before.
But now, as the season moves into its back half, Musetti is setting his sights firmly on one very specific goal: qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin. For the 23-year-old, it’s not just about maintaining form—he wants to prove he belongs among the best of the best at the season-ending tournament.
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In a recent interview, Musetti was candid. He admitted that qualifying for Turin is “definitely” his biggest goal this year, but he’s trying not to put too much pressure on himself. “We’re halfway through the season,” he said, “and there are still a lot of points to grab, especially with the two Masters 1000 events and the US Open coming up during the North American swing.”
That said, this part of the season hasn’t traditionally been his strong suit. Fast hard courts and grass have never really played to his strengths, especially with his elegant yet tricky one-handed backhand. It’s a beautiful shot, but on quicker surfaces like hard courts or grass, he’s admitted it becomes more of a liability than a weapon. “On clay, you have more time to defend and recover,” he explained. “On faster courts, you have to be much quicker, especially when returning serve.”
Musetti’s recent results have shown these challenges. After his semi-final loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros—where a muscle issue reportedly affected his performance—he's struggled. Grass court season was a tough stretch, with early exits, and a first-round loss in Washington didn’t help matters. Meanwhile, players like Alex de Minaur and Holger Rune have passed him in the rankings. Starting next week, Musetti will drop to world No. 10.
With hard court specialists like Rublev and Tiafoe just a few points behind him, the pressure is very real. The next big test will come in Toronto and then the US Open—both crucial opportunities for him to earn points and stabilize his spot in the top 10.
For Musetti, this isn’t just about defending a ranking. It’s about proving he can be consistent across all surfaces and fully establish himself among the game’s elite. The dream of qualifying for the ATP Finals is still alive—but it’s going to take a serious mental and tactical shift to make it a reality.
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