THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 8, 2024

Lorenzo Musetti

Press Conference

L. MUSETTI/G. Perricard

4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Lorenzo, through to the quarterfinals. Must be feeling pretty good right now.

LORENZO MUSETTI: Yeah, I mean, I think you saw on court how I felt after the finish of the match. Yeah, really tough first set. He was really playing well. Had one break. Really tough on the 4-3. Then he was really playing with not so many unforced errors. That probably was complicating my game.

At the end I found out a way. The other three sets really positive. Really happy to be in the quarters for the first time.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What is it like facing Giovanni's big serve? Is it like being a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Yeah, could be a great example. I have to say that some serves are probably unreturnable, so you have to accept that. That's what I was doing the most.

But then when you have the chance, you have to take it. My coach told me before the game, To break him you have to be Love-40, not 30-40, because he's going to probably do an ace or a first-serve winner.

He was right. When I had the chance in the break points that I had during the match, and the games where I broke him I was always, like, two points in advance. Let's say the first one was always some big serve of him. Even last game, Love-40, two aces, then one rally where both players can win the point.

With him, I was lucky that I played like a few weeks ago in Stuttgart. I knew how to, let's say, manage this situation.

Q. About Giovanni, it's a player who has improved a lot since last year. In terms of ranking, where do you see him going?

LORENZO MUSETTI: I mean, it's tough to make prediction in this sport. I think he has a lot of potential, of course. There's no doubt about that. I saw him playing in Stuttgart. Comparing to here, he was playing way better here. I'm speaking about baseline. Of course, the serve is his lethal weapon.

He has to make experience because, of course, he's new on tour. In a few months, the end of the year, more players, they're going to let's say know better him. They will probably know better how to play against him. That's something that I find on myself also.

But, of course, if he keeps growing, he has a good coach, I really love the work that they are doing. He probably will break through the top 30, top 20 pretty soon. The hard season is coming. With his serve, it's not easy to return.

He has a bright future ahead.

Q. I'm going to take a bit of a punt here and ask about your tattoo.

LORENZO MUSETTI: Here? This one?

Q. Yes. A ship's anchor or...

LORENZO MUSETTI: Yeah, it's an anchor and it's written 'family'. I have three tattoos on my body. Probably the most known is the one with my heartbeat, heart rate, and tennis racquet in the middle. Then I have this for my family because they're always supporting me, like an anchor does. Then I have one phrase with my coach. It says in Italian: Il meglio deve ancora venire. The best is yet to come.

Today I can say is coming (smiling).

Q. The anchor is to stop you from drifting away, keeps you anchored safely to shore?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Yeah, they always protect me in a certain way. I mean, I speaking personally. Family always believe me, kept me, let's say, always with a positive mindset on my future. They weren't making almost never doubts on my future, on what I was doing. They always supporting me.

Even if they are not here, especially my parents, they've been following me from home since I was literally a kid. They made, true, a lot of sacrifice. You understand probably when you have a certain age.

Now all the sacrifice that we have done as a family are paying off. That's why I was so emotional after my win on court today.

Q. Any examples of sacrifices?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Yeah, I mean, this sport for traveling you have to be, I don't want to say rich, but there are a lot of expenses to, let's say, invest in this sport. Let's say my family didn't have that possibilities. Of course, I was good enough to find sponsor, and also the federation, who gave me a lot of help in terms of economical, let's say, reason.

Also my family were always there, always supporting with my coach, Simone. We have been together since I was eight, nine. It's been more than 11, 12 years. It's something really rarely on the tour.

Also my mother was always taking me like a taxi driver. I was born in Carrara. We practice in La Spezia. It's 40 minutes every day by car. I know probably in London it's not that much. A small village like Carrara, 30 minutes to go, 30 minutes to come back for somebody who was working was a huge sacrifice.

I really appreciate that help from my parents.

Q. Looking ahead to your next match, we don't know yet who the opponent will be. I'd like to ask you about the two possibilities. First Taylor Fritz. What are your thoughts on the possibilities and challenges you would face against him?

LORENZO MUSETTI: I mean, Taylor has been an amazing run. Also in Eastbourne. He's playing really well. He knows for sure how to play on grass. We've been playing here in Wimbledon two years ago, if I'm correctly, where he was playing one of his best tennis probably, and I was not mature enough on this surface. So definitely will be a completely different match.

We just had one meeting this year where I won in Monte-Carlo. But completely different conditions. We know each other, so it's going to be for sure a tough match. We are in quarterfinals. I don't expect any easy matches.

Q. And Zverev, what are the specifics in facing him?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Probably Zverev, first of all, it's going to be our first meeting ever. No?

Q. 2022 on clay.

LORENZO MUSETTI: Sorry (smiling).

Yeah, because I retire, so I forgot.

Apart of this, he's probably one of the toughest challenge right now because probably after Jannik or Carlos, I would put him in the top three players in the world right now because with the win of Rome and the final in Paris, he probably took a lot of trust on his-self, a lot of good feeling.

I practice with him this week, but was like during day off so we didn't do much. We were both hitting the ball very well.

It's tough to say, but it's going to be really a challenging match. But I have nothing to lose, so I will go on court to play, to enjoy, and to try to enjoy my best, my first quarterfinal ever.