STARNBERG, September 17, 2020
Two qualifiers headlined Thursday’s second-round action at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. Local teenager Lorenzo Musetti continued his fine form with a 6-3, 6-4 win over former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori of Japan. The 18-year-old saved all five break points he faced and converted two of his own six break point chances to become the youngest man to reach the third round in the Eternal City since an 18-year-old Fabrice Santoro in 1991.
On Tuesday, Musetti sprung the upset to beat former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka to become the first player born in 2002 to win an ATP Tour match.
Tuesday: Wawrinka 6-0 7-6
Thursday: Nishikori 6-3 6-4🇮🇹 Musetti continues to impress, defeating another top player to reach the last 16 in Rome!#IBI20 pic.twitter.com/5IBYWuQE6F
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 17, 2020
“It was an incredible match,” Musetti said during his on-court interview. “I think I played really smart, as he was playing close to the baseline. It was different to Wawrinka, they are great champions. I am really happy right now. I felt really good on my forehand from the beginning. I could play more offensively on return, than against Stan.”
Career-best win for Koepfer
Musetti, currently No. 249 in the ATP Rankings, will next take on Dominik Koepfer. The 26-year-old German has secured his first win over a Top 10 player by beating World No. 9 Gael Monfils of France 6-2, 6-4 later in the evening.
Koepfer, who has received a wild card into the main draw of the Hamburg European Open next week, won 57 per cent of the total points played to advance after one hour and 31 minutes.
#IBI20 Sweet 16 locked in!
🇷🇸 Djokovic v Krajinovic 🇷🇸
🇮🇹 Musetti v Koepfer 🇩🇪
🇮🇹 Berrettini v Travaglia 🇮🇹
🇳🇴 Ruud v Cilic 🇭🇷🇫🇷 Humbert v Shapovalov 🇨🇦
🇧🇬 Dimitrov v Sinner 🇮🇹
🇦🇷 Schwartzman v Hurkacz 🇵🇱
🇷🇸 Lajovic v Nadal 🇪🇸Choose your eight winners…
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 17, 2020
