By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, December 28, 2025Photo credit score: Rob Newell/CameraSport
A streaking Lorenzo Musetti raced towards the blurring ball seemingly over-running it.
When Musetti is in full move, typical shotmaking is merely a platform for imaginative aerial acrobatics.
Musetti conjured a working tweener lob sending Carlos Alcaraz again to the baseline for a tweener of his personal solely to see the Italian dab a drop volley winner like a break up of yellow paint on a blue canvas.
In an period of ATP annihilators, Musetti is the shotmaking artist able to making the ball dance in devious gyrations prompting even the world’s premier gamers to applaud.
This season, Musetti took the opening set from Alcaraz within the Roland Garros semifinals earlier than retiring after happening two units to 1.
Musetti gained 18 of 26 matches—together with reaching finals in Chengdu and Athens—and reached the year-end Nitto ATP Finals for the primary time after Novak Djokovic withdrew.
World No. 8 Musetti is an all-court artist with a gambler’s really feel for rush of the working strike.
The 23-year-old Musetti goals to indulge each passions when he performs the MGM Slam in Las Vegas on March 1st.
An elite eight-man group will play the MGM Slam on the T-Cell Area in Vegas.
Led by ATP world No. 6 and top-ranked American Taylor Fritz, the 10-point tiebreaker knockout singles-format occasion will start at 4 p.m. PT.
Becoming a member of the previous U.S. Open finalist shall be fellow American Tommy Paul, Norwegian famous person Casper Ruud, Battle of the Sexes victor Nick Kyrgios, flashy Brazilian Joao Fonseca, entertaining Frenchman Gael Monfils, drop-shot grasp Alexander Bublik and Olympic bronze medalist Musetti, who plans to hit the on line casino throughout his down time.
Tickets for the MGM Slam are on sale through AXS.com now.
Decreasing distance between his physique and the baseline is one problem Musetti faces making an attempt to shut the hole No. 1 Alcaraz and No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who swept Musetti within the US Open quarterfinals in September. Can Musetti strengthen his stamina, step in a bit extra on sooner surfaces and apply his versatility and all-court acumen to hassle the world’s High 2, who’ve mixed to seize the final eight straight Grand Slam championships?
It certain shall be enjoyable to search out out.
We caught up with the daddy of two Musetti two days after Christmas for this Zoom name interview. The Muse Man discusses his aim for 2026, what he’s discovered from going through Alcaraz, his tennis inspiration and classes discovered from parenthood.
Tennis Now: Lorenzo, what attracted you to taking part in the MGM Slam in March? Whenever you’re in Las Vegas, what are you most wanting ahead to seeing and doing?
Lorenzo Musetti: Nicely, the format I feel is fairly cool. It’s fairly quick. And I feel additionally the sphere is fairly deep. We’ve bought a number of large names like Fritz, Fonseca, Tommy Paul. I feel the truth that everyone seems to be taking part in the exhibition earlier than Indian Wells is one thing that’s attracting me.
And particularly in a spot like Vegas. It’s one of the best metropolis to play an exhibition, to play a type of present of tennis and it’s someplace the place I needed to go. I’ve at all times been dreaming of going to a on line casino in Vegas. I feel all people—as soon as in a lifetime—you need to do it. So I feel I’ll go [to a casino] with my crew simply to have enjoyable there.
Tennis Now: Lorenzo, again in 2019 you gained the Australian Open junior title. It was an incredible match. What’s your aim for this 2026 season? In terms of Melbourne, does the floor fit your sport or do it’s essential to make some changes to go deep on the AO as you’ve gone deep in Paris, London and New York?
Lorenzo Musetti: Nicely, in fact I’ve so many nice recollections from the Australian Open 2019—[winning] the title of the juniors. And I feel, in fact, you recognize a number of time to play because the juniors.
Now that I’m taking part in the skilled one, I’ve by no means skilled to play my greatest tennis in Australia. This yr, at first of the yr, I performed some good matches, together with the loss to [Ben] Shelton, who was taking part in rather well. However I feel I can do higher. I improved so much this yr on onerous court docket.
So, we’re actually working onerous to adapt my sport. I don’t wish to say a “onerous court docket specialist”, however in a extra aggressive type, so I feel it is going to actually match properly in Australia. So hopefully I can begin with a extremely aggressive, you recognize, tennis that may actually open up all of the alternatives.
Tennis Now: You performed a improbable match in opposition to Carlos within the Roland Garros semifinals. What’s the most pleasing and thrilling side of taking part in in opposition to Carlos? What’s the largest problem about taking part in in opposition to Carlos?
Lorenzo Musetti: Thanks. Nicely on clay, particularly, Carlos confirmed that he’s one of the best participant this yr, thus far. As a result of he gained nearly all the pieces that he performed. I had an enormous problem, you recognize, to win a set.
To play at that degree was actually difficult and demanding for my physique. That’s a aspect the place I wish to do higher for myself. That’s what I’m doing and dealing actually onerous to enhance.
And the factor that I like essentially the most taking part in in opposition to Carlos is that each time I step on court docket with him, I got here out with one thing, you recognize? Technical, tactical, bodily particularly and mentally. Like for instance after I performed Jannick on the US Open it was a loss that in fact was a tricky loss however its one thing that retains you motivated to succeed in the extent and to attempt to shut the hole between me and them.
Tennis Now: You might have a really elegant, free-flowing, stunning type of play. Who have been the gamers who influenced your type essentially the most? What provides you the best pleasure about competing on the highest degree of the game?
Lorenzo Musetti: Nicely in fact, Roger. I at all times bought inspiration from Federer since I used to be a child, since I began to play tennis.
So at all times Roger was—he nonetheless is—my idol.
In fact, competing at this degree it’s a dream—it’s my childhood dream. That I’ve the chance to reside the life that I at all times dreamed about. And having my household behind me, already at a younger age, is the proper mixture, I suppose.
Tennis Now: You turned a father for the second time this yr. What’s the most stunning or essential lesson you’ve discovered from fatherhood?
Lorenzo Musetti: That’s a superb query.
The very best lesson, I feel, is that what you present in the home or in your day by day life, the children will copy you.
In order that gave me a number of motivation to not do unhealthy issues on the court docket. Additionally I used to be somewhat bit, my habits on court docket was somewhat bit nervous typically. I made some steps ahead on that and hopefully I could make some steps ahead even within the subsequent season as a result of I wish to be an instance. Not only for my youngsters, however for the children which can be approaching tennis and dreaming of changing into tennis gamers.
Tennis Now: Final query: You’ve performed semifinals at Roland Garros and at Wimbledon and naturally quarterfinals at US Open. When you might make the finals at any Grand Slam, which one would you select? And which Slam do you’re feeling your sport is greatest fitted to?
Lorenzo Musetti: Nicely, in fact I feel that Wimbledon has at all times been my favourite Slam to play on the court docket.
As a result of off court docket, I feel Australia is de facto stunning. I imply each Slam is exclusive as a result of they’re completely different.
However the one which I see extra in my footwear, it’s Roland Garros on clay, which might be my favourite floor.
