The two Olympic semi-finals have been decided with the guarantee of a brand new gold medalist.
Novak Djokovic is still yet to lose a set at the Paris Olympics as he sets his heart on gold, having only ever achieved bronze.
The Serb returns to his most haunting stage, with his defeat from a set and a break up to Alexander Zverev in Tokyo likely etched into his memory.
With Lorenzo Musetti having smartly taken apart the Zverev game, he poses a new and unique challenge to the Serb, despite them having faced off twice in the last two months.
The knee injury sustained at the French Open during the following match after his clash with Musetti looks to have been exacerbated again, with Djokovic’s Olympic dream now hanging further in the balance.
Novak Djokovic praises the dynamic Lorenzo Musetti ahead of their semi-final match
The pair faced off at Roland Garros in June in a mammoth five sets, before a far more routine victory for the Serb at Wimbledon.
Musetti was confident about facing Djokovic again and after the 37-year-old got the better of Stefanos Tsitsipas on Thursday, he heaped praise on the Italian.
Djokovic told Eurosport: “Musetti won against Zverev today, he’s in terrific form. [He’s] played at least semis in every event I think for the last five, six events.
“We had an incredible late-night finish here in the third round of Roland Garros – I think it was up to 3am we played – so I hope I can be physically fit for that one because that’s what’s going to be necessary to try and get the win.”
With Djokovic having issued a concerning fitness update ahead of his Olympic semi-final, he looks to have his work cut out against the slick-footed Italian.
However, Musetti has sounded positive ahead of his semi-final with Djokovic, highlighting how the best-of-three sets format may help him cause a shock upset.
Lorenzo Musetti is certainly capable of clinching gold for Italy
After Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Olympics through injury, Musetti remained Italy’s only real hope in the men’s singles.
Having played and lost in the final in Umag last Saturday, he registered only a few hours of sleep before racing over to Paris to play his opening match against Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Musetti was controversially booed as he entered the court in his first match, but has since recovered and regained the love of the Parisian crowd.
His quarter-final opponent Taylor Fritz praised Musetti’s tactical nouse, with the American totally outplayed.
The swagger and exuberance that Musetti plays with is astonishing and at just 22, the Italian has laid down a serious marker and will be desperate for revenge against his Wimbledon semi-final conqueror.
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