ATP 500 – Hamburg: Musetti defeats Alcaraz to win his first ATP title

Alcaraz-Musetti is a match that will be played often in the years to come, as the two prodigies have a bright future ahead of them. Their first-ever main-court duel took place today in the final of the Hamburg tournament, and the 20-year-old Italian won to add a first ATP title to his record. 

A final with twists and turns

Like his previous matches in the tournament, Lorenzo Musetti, ranked 62nd in the world, was in control in this final. He won the first set 6-4, and in the second set, he broke the 19-year-old Spaniard again to keep his lead and serve for the match and the tournament.

And this is where the drama really begins. The Spaniard gives everything he has to stay alive in this final, leads 0-15 on his opponent’s serve and then puts down what should have been considered a perfect drop shot on the next rally. “Should have”, yes, because Musetti straightens the ball and then scores the point while the ball had doubled in his part of the court. Aurélie Tourte, a renowned referee, did not see this second bounce, however, and so cannot self-correct despite Alcaraz’s claims. Musetti, with a lot of guile, slammed his smash and then went back to his baseline as if nothing had happened. But Carlito did not let this injustice get him down. He saved two match points and then broke the Italian. With courage and mental strength, Alcaraz again saved match points in the tie-break before winning 8-6 to set the Am Rothenbaum alight. Musetti had already faced this scenario in his semifinal match against the Argentine Francisco Cerundolo as he served to break the match in two sets and then suffered the debreak. But unlike today, he came out on top in the tie-break.

In the final set, the battle was tough between the two talents. Although the Spaniard did not deliver his best performance of the tournament, as he had been impressive in the previous rounds (against Krajinovic and Kachanov in particular), he was still very solid and often incisive. Musetti, on the other hand, once again shows an excellent level, shows his golden hand and builds on his very good week in Hamburg. Including the final, he only lost two sets in the tournament, and a quality/regularity ratio that he had never before achieved in a week. Such a level that allows him to overcome the Spanish panther by converting his sixth match point, to win his first title on the ATP circuit.

Fresh air on the tour

This final between the two geniuses was a breath of fresh air and a chance to showcase the new generation. Lorenzo Musetti, 20 years old and a hand full of skill, who until now has lacked consistency and a big performance on the main circuit. Carlos Alcaraz, 19 years old, 6th in the world, needs no introduction. A true phenomenon, he has won four ATP titles this year, including two Masters 1000 (Miami and Madrid). He is the undisputed leader of the new generation, in which the Italians seem to have a bright future.

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