Rock-Solid Musetti Moves Past Barrere In Stuttgart
Lorenzo Musetti and Hubert Hurkacz each sealed quarter-final spots Wednesday at the BOSS OPEN, but the pair took starkly contrasting paths to the last eight.
The sixth-seeded Musetti delivered a classy display at the grass-court ATP 250 in Stuttgart to see off Gregoire Barrere 6-3, 6-3. The Italian saved all seven break points he faced in a 96-minute encounter during which he also produced some trademark moments of magic off his backhand wing.
“Today I think I played really great tennis,” said Musetti, whose opponent in his first tour-level quarter-final on grass will be third seed Frances Tiafoe or Jiri Lehecka. “I showed that I can play really, really well even on grass. I surprised [myself] a little bit, because I was serving really big, especially in the important moments.
“I’m really happy because Gregoire is a really good player and I was thinking he could be a tough opponent, but today I think I showed a really great level.”
Hurkacz had to battle back from the brink for his first win in three appearances in Stuttgart. The fourth seed was two points from defeat against Yosuke Watanuki when the pair was locked at 5/5 in the second-set tie-break, but Hurkacz held firm for a 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(5) second-round triumph.
The World No. 14 Hurkacz, who won his maiden ATP Tour title on grass at the ATP 500 event in Halle last year, will play Christopher O’Connell next. The Australian earlier prevailed 7-6(5), 6-3 against Lorenzo Sonego to reach his fifth tour-level quarter-final of the season.
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