MELBOURNE, Australia — The man bun of Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti has officially been retired, as he arrived at the Australian Open sporting a fresh new haircut. Musetti managed to secure his victory in the first round on Tuesday, winning against fellow countryman Matteo Arnaldi by a slender margin in a fierce match that lasted 4 hours and 6 minutes. The match concluded with scores of 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5), and 6-3 at the Melbourne Park venue.
The once-flowing locks that used to hang close to his shoulders have been replaced with a much shorter style. This transformation follows his appearances at the All England Club last July, where he reached the semifinals, and the Davis Cup Finals in late November, where Italy emerged victorious.
Gone, too, is the signature top knot he had during the Summer Olympics. Musetti expressed optimism about his new look, stating, “For now, the short hair had a good start in Australia. Let’s hope it can bring me luck.” He recognizes that if it weren’t for his lengthy hair in the past, few would have noticed this change.
Social media has certainly caught wind of Musetti’s new hairstyle, as enthusiasts shared their thoughts on it. The 22-year-old indicated that this is the shortest his hair has been since he was a teenager. He reminisced about winning the Australian Open junior boys’ title at age 16, noting that even then, his hair was longer.
“I’m getting old,” Musetti remarked, flashing a smile, “so I am trying to look younger.” His victory against the 39th-ranked Arnaldi was a close one, with Musetti edging out his opponent by merely eight points in total, 169 to 161.
Reflecting on the match, Musetti acknowledged the challenge it presented, saying, “It was quite a long match. … Honestly, it could have gone either way.” Historically, he has struggled at this tournament, not having advanced past the second round in his three previous attempts at the Australian Open.
He expressed pride in his win, despite not reaching his peak performance. “When you play your best, it’s easy to take a victory home,” he stated. “These are the matches that make you grow and mature as a player.” This win marks a promising start to Musetti’s campaign at this year’s Australian Open.
