Novak Djokovic beaten in fiery battle with Lorenzo Musetti as Italian reaches Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals
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Updated 13/04/2023 at 18:27 GMT
Error-prone Novak Djokovic was beaten at the last-16 stage of the Monte Carlo Masters after going the distance with Italian Lorenzo Musetti. After the Serbian won the opening set, Musetti snatched the second before the weather halted play at 1-1 in the decider. Once play had resumed on Court Rainier III, Musetti took advantage of Djokovic’s poor form to claim the biggest win of his career.
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Lorenzo Musetti recorded the biggest win of his career over Novak Djokovic after coming from a set down to win 4-6 7-5 6-4 and reach the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals.
The match went the distance following a break in play due to bad weather, but Musetti eventually got over the line on his fourth match point to wrap up the two-hour, 54-minute encounter.
"I am struggling not to cry," Musetti said in his on-court interview. "It is an emotional win because it was a really long match.
"Three-hour match and suspended by rain. It was not easy conditions because it was a little bit windy and cold. Not like we used to play in the recent days.
"I am really proud of myself and I can see on the screen. I am struggling not to cry because it is a dream for me."
Djokovic - who won the Monte Carlo Masters in 2013 and 2015 - struggled to find his rhythm in the windy and wet conditions, and after securing the first set relatively comfortably, lost serve seven times which helped Musetti level the match.
There was an incident between Djokovic and the chair umpire during the second set when Musetti went long on his serve at 3-4, and Djokovic unsuccessfully argued a ball mark with Aurelie Tourte.
Hawk-eye later confirmed Djokovic was correct and Musetti’s effort was the wrong side of the baseline, but it was too late as Tourte’s opinion matched that of the line judge, and the Italian took the point and went on to win the game.
As the crowd jeered the world No. 1 for his on-court altercation with the umpire, he was issued a warning for smashing his racquet in the aftermath of the decision.
Rain forced the players off the court at 1-1 in the deciding set, which gave the pair a chance to cool down and recompose after things began to boil over on Court Rainier III.
However, Musetti continued his impressive form after play resumed following a 59-minute break, as he rallied towards only his second ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.
He played with intensity and flair while Djokovic made an uncharacteristic number of unforced errors - 46 in total - which allowed the 21-year-old to take control of the deciding set in the big points.
"I am just going to enjoy this win for at least half an hour and then I will rest, recover and be ready for the next battle with a friend and fellow Italian," Musetti added.
Musetti’s ninth tour-level win of the season earned him a quarter-final meeting against countryman Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic will have to wait for his record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 title.
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