PARIS — Lorenzo Musetti demonstrated his impressive one-handed backhand and exceptional court agility to secure a place in his first semifinal at the French Open and his second at a Grand Slam tournament by defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 on Tuesday. This success comes on the same clay where he clinched an Olympic bronze medal during last year’s games.
After sealing his victory, the 23-year-old Italian proudly displayed his right bicep by rolling up his green shirt’s sleeve. Musetti’s next challenge on Friday will likely be more demanding as he prepares to face the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz, vying for a spot in the final round.
In the evening’s match, Alcaraz cruised to victory with a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 win against No. 12 seed Tommy Paul. Paul, despite being hindered by a heavily taped right thigh, couldn’t perform at his peak against his formidable opponent.
With Musetti seeded at No. 8 and Jannik Sinner prepared to confront the unseeded Alexander Bublik in the Wednesday quarterfinals, Italy finds itself with two male competitors in the Roland-Garros quarterfinals for the first time since 1973.
In a rare feat for American tennis, Tiafoe, along with Paul, marked the first instance of U.S. male players reaching the final eight in Paris since Andre Agassi in 2003, and the first pair to achieve this in the same year since the duo of Jim Courier and Pete Sampras in 1996. However, post-Tuesday, American players have a 1-60 record against top 10 opponents at the French Open since 1999.
On the women’s side, three-time champion Iga Swiatek and No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced effortlessly with straight-set victories, setting the stage for a thrilling semifinal clash on Thursday.
Tiafoe, aged 27 from Maryland and ranked 15th, had a smooth run to the quarterfinals without dropping a set but struggled against Musetti. Sporting a chain bearing the inscription “Big Foe”, he grappled with his form, missing all first serves in his initial game and erring wide on a backhand, granting Musetti an early 2-0 advantage. Expressing his frustration, Tiafoe pointed to the persistent wind as a disruptive element.
“It was a challenging day to execute shots perfectly given the windy conditions,” Musetti shared. Despite Tiafoe leveling the match at one set each with an emphatic forehand and roaring “Let’s go!”, Musetti maintained a marked edge with more winners, 44 to Tiafoe’s 33, and significantly fewer unforced errors, tallying just 32 to Tiafoe’s 51.
An intriguing moment unfolded in the third set’s sixth game. Musetti showcased remarkable skill in reaching a wide-angled shot near the doubles alley. Tiafoe responded with a cleverly aimed return, pushing Musetti to improvise a difficult shot with his back to the net. Tiafoe, seemingly caught off-guard, faltered at the ensuing volley.
The decisive moment came when Musetti broke serve in the closing game of the set, capitalizing on a misplaced drop shot from Tiafoe with a precise down-the-line backhand, propelling him into a jubilant fist pump.
When commended on his stylistic elegance post-match, Musetti humorously remarked, “We Italians are inherently elegant.” In his French Open pursuits, he holds a 13-4 record, with three defeats to players ranked No. 1 — Novak Djokovic twice and Alcaraz once. As he eyes the final, Musetti may only face a top-seeded opponent if his compatriot Sinner stands in the way with the championship trophy at stake.