John McEnroe has given Lorenzo Musetti little chance of defeating Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals.
The Italian has enjoyed an impressive grass court season, making the last four at Stuttgart, Queen’s and now at the All-England Club.
He is riding a wave of confidence after reaching his maiden Grand Slam semi-final and will relish the chance to face the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Should he defeat the Serbian, the 22-year-old would join Jasmine Paolini as another Italian in a Wimbledon final in 2024.
Does John McEnroe think Lorenzo Musetti can beat Novak Djokoivc?
Musetti has reached the Wimbledon semi-finals without winning a match in straight sets. He needed four sets to defeat Constant Lestienne, Francisco Comesana and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while he went the distance to beat compatriot Luciano Darderi and Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals.
He has spent far more time on court throughout the tournament than Djokovic, who did not play his quarter-final following an injury to Alex de Minaur.
Therefore, McEnroe is worried Musetti may not feel as fresh, and expects the 37-year-old’s elite qualities and motivation to break more records to shine through.
“Let’s assume that Novak is healthy, if he is healthy, but let’s say he is. I would say the proverbial puncher’s chance,” the commentator said on BBC. “I think mentally he will be nervous going out there and physically he is not going to be fresh as a daisy.
“That’s not a good combination when you are playing a guy who is a human back board and has been there and done that and wants to break all the records. I would give it a 10% per cent shot, or a 15%. He is playing with a lot of skill. I firmly believe he will be in the top 10.”
Has Lorenzo Musetti beaten Novak Djokovic?
Djokovic and Musetti have played on six previous occasions, but the Italian has emerged victorious just once.
This came in the last 16 of the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters, which the 25th seed claimed in three sets.
The pair’s last meeting came as recently as the French Open. Musetti was leading their third round encounter in Paris by two sets to one, before Djokovic found a way back.
The World number two lost just three games over the final two sets to book his spot in the next round. He would go on to beat Francisco Cerundolo in five sets in the quarter-finals, but a knee injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament.
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