Musetti’s Tactical Mastery Shines Through on Clay
Lorenzo Musetti delivered another statement win on the famed terre battue of Paris, dispatching Holger Rune in four sets—7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2—after over three hours of high-intensity tennis. On a sun-soaked Philippe Chatrier Court, Musetti looked every bit the clay-court specialist, dismantling Rune’s early momentum with adaptable tactics and ice-cold focus. The crowd couldn’t take their eyes off the action, especially as both players slugged it out in nail-biting baseline exchanges and daring drop shots.
The match kicked off with Musetti immediately making his presence known, breaking Rune’s serve with crisp returns and pinpoint backhands. That one-handed backhand—easily one of the most beautiful shots on tour—set the tone, allowing Musetti to control the pace and drag Rune into longer rallies where the Dane started to unravel. Rune, seeded tenth, had come out swinging, hoping to overpower the world No. 7. But Musetti kept his cool, absorbing Rune’s firepower and adjusting when needed, especially after Rune bounced back to snatch the second set.
Musetti’s composure stood out. Unlike last season, where his frustration sometimes got the better of him, he seemed calmer, more calculated in key moments. Even Rune’s best attempts to destabilize him—mixing deep drives with drop shots and trying for quick winners—couldn’t throw Musetti off his rhythm for long. The Italian broke serve again in the third, then turned up the heat in the fourth with relentless pressure and hardly a whiff of nerves as Rune’s errors began to mount.
Consistency Paying Off for Musetti
This run is no fluke. Coming into Roland-Garros, Musetti had already built up a head of steam on clay, making semi-finals or better at every Masters event leading up to the French Open. His Grand Slam stat line now stands at 12-0 against anyone ranked outside the top five, making it clear he’s a consistent threat for any opponent not at the very top.
Afterward, Musetti talked about his new approach: fewer outbursts and greater focus. “I complain less now, I’m more steady,” he said with a grin—music to any coach’s ears. His new mentality paid off big time against Rune, who once again couldn’t crack the last eight at a major when facing a top-10 rival.
The match itself brought plenty for fans to remember. Rallies stretched the length of the court, and the TV cameras often caught the crowd gasping as Musetti pulled off improbable gets and slick backhand winners right out of the top drawer. Rune’s all-or-nothing style made for fireworks, but it was Musetti’s steady hand and tactical discipline that proved decisive.
With Frances Tiafoe waiting as his next test, Musetti is right in the thick of what’s shaping up to be his career-best clay-court season. If you’re looking for a fresh name to shake up this year’s French Open, keep an eye on Musetti. His combination of flair and focus is finally clicking, and Paris just might witness another chapter in his growing legend.
