In a stunning turn of events at Wimbledon, 22-year-old Italian Lorenzo Musetti has secured his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance after a thrilling five-set victory over American Taylor Fritz, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. The 25th-seeded Musetti showcased remarkable resilience, bouncing back from losing the first and fourth sets to clinch the win in a match that lasted over three hours.Musetti’s victory sets up a highly anticipated semifinal clash with seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic. Djokovic, who is seeking his 25th Grand Slam title, advanced to the semifinals without playing after his scheduled opponent, Alex de Minaur, withdrew due to a hip injury. This will be Musetti’s seventh encounter with Djokovic, with the Serbian holding a 5-1 head-to-head advantage.Reflecting on his achievement, Musetti said, ‘I don’t even realize what I’ve done. It’s been fantastic playing here, I’m happy to be in the semifinals’. He also credited the birth of his son in March as a motivating factor in his recent success. Looking ahead to his match with Djokovic, Musetti acknowledged the challenge, stating, ‘Djokovic knows the grass better than me… He’s a legend, he’s won many Wimbledons, he’s done things that are unthinkable. We know each other well, it will be a tough battle’.In the women’s draw, fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina continued her impressive form, defeating Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals. Rybakina, who has been in excellent form this year with titles in Stuttgart, Brisbane, and Abu Dhabi, will face Barbora Krejcikova in the next round.
Key points
- Lorenzo Musetti, 22, reaches his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon after defeating Taylor Fritz in five sets.
- Musetti will face seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
- Djokovic advanced without playing due to Alex de Minaur’s injury withdrawal.
- Elena Rybakina continues her strong form, advancing to the women’s semifinals.
