Skip to main content
Musetti stuns Djokovic for 'dream' win, Rublev overcomes doubles partner Khachanov
Written by Sports Desk. Posted in ATP. | 13 April 2023 | 612 Views
Tags: Tennis, Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, Montecarlo Rolex Masters, Novak Djokovic

Lorenzo Musetti stunned Novak Djokovic to seal a "dream" victory and a quarter-final spot in the Monte Carlo Masters.

Falling to a 4-6 defeat in the first set, Musetti responded to win 7-5 in the second and 6-4 in the third following a rain delay.

The 21-year-old overcame the world number one in a mammoth two-hour, 54 minute encounter and capitalised on weak serves from the Serbian – breaking his opponent eight times en route to a career high victory.

Emotions were high for Musetti, who said afterwards: "I am struggling not to cry. It is an emotional win because it was a really long match. Three-hour match and suspended by rain.

"It was not easy conditions because it was a little bit windy and cold. Not like we used to play in the recent days. I am really proud of myself and I can see on the screen. I am struggling not to cry because it is a dream for me."

Musetti's reward is a clash with Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals, who trailed Hubert Hurkacz by a set and a break before rallying to a 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 triumph – sending him into the last-eight in six of the seven events he has played this season.

Elsewhere, Andrey Rublev earned a 50th tour-level win on clay with a 7-6 (6-4) 6-2 victory over Karen Khachanov, who was his doubles partner earlier this week before the pair suffered elimination against Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski.

Rublev will meet German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff in the next round, who secured a major upset earlier in the day by eliminating world number four Casper Ruud.

A 6-1 7-6 (10-8) victory earned Struff his first top 10 win since June 2021, when he defeated Daniil Medvedev in Halle, and advances to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final since Cincinnati in 2020.

LATEST STORIES

#1 ATP
Sinner doping case in April
  • 2025-01-10 07:33:32
  • Hits 87
#2 ATP
Djokovic, Kyrgios win doubles match
  • 2024-12-30 03:59:07
  • Hits 56
#3 ATP
Djokovic aiming for improved 2025
  • 2024-12-29 00:20:21
  • Hits 56
#4 ATP
Lehecka claims Brisbane crown
  • 2025-01-05 01:53:15
  • Hits 49
#5 ATP
Djokovic hails Murray impact
  • 2024-12-29 04:13:33
  • Hits 47