Lorenzo Musetti’s journey at Roland Garros came to a heartbreaking halt on Friday when he was forced to retire during his semi-final match against reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz due to an upper left leg injury. Despite the disappointing end, the 23-year-old Italian reflected positively on his performance, expressing pride in his level of play throughout the match.
“I’m really sad and disappointed how it ended, but still a great match,” Musetti stated. He admitted to noticing a deterioration in his leg strength early in the third set and ultimately made the difficult decision to retire while trailing Alcaraz 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0.
This loss marks Musetti’s third consecutive defeat to Alcaraz, who now leads their career head-to-head series 6-1. However, Musetti felt he was improving, stating, “I felt today honestly I stepped forward on my level. I felt closer to his level.”
Musetti showcased his skill throughout the tournament, becoming one of only five players in history to reach the semi-finals of every clay ATP Masters 1000 event and Roland Garros in the same season. Holding an impressive 19-4 record on clay this year, he departs Paris with newfound confidence.
Looking ahead, Musetti’s trajectory appears promising. Now positioned at a career-high No. 6 in the ATP rankings, he reflects on his growth: “I knew even before stepping on court that I had to play probably the best match of my career so far. For part of it, I was doing a great job… At the end… there was of course no chance to play at his level with this problem.”
With confidence from his clay-court performances, Musetti is set to transition into the grass-court season, where he previously excelled, including a strong showing at Wimbledon. This experience may serve as a springboard for future success as he aims to continue his ascent in the world of tennis.