Lorenzo Musetti was in action earlier today as he faced Alexander Bublik in the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International.
And whilst the match has been lauded for some stunning tennis, in which both players pulled out phenomenal points, there was one moment that the Italian will likely live to regret.
But, what could the world number 27 have done that was so catastrophic, that left him hunched over the net, head in his hands? We take a closer look…
Lorenzo Musetti got one thing all wrong against Alexander Bublik
Although his serve at times faltered, and he fell foul to the magnificent trickery of his opponent on numerous occasions, there was a key flashpoint which arguably turned the game on its head.
Having struggled through the first set, but then won the second on a tiebreak, the third was heading to the wire.
Both players were going blow for blow, and as Musetti sought to see out yet his service game which would have sent them to another tiebreak, he did something terrible.
Having manoeuvred the Kazakhstan star around the court, all the defending player could do was float up a last-gasp effort high and at the net.
It should have been meat and drink for the 21-year-old, but in his panicked state, he inexplicably lashed the ball out of play.
Well, commentator Adam Fielder could only claim: ‘Oh my goodness me, he’s missed it. Can you believe it?’ Meanwhile, his co-commentator Barry Cowan scrambled for an answer: ‘That’s just fatigue. That’s just stress. The point was his, just put the ball in the court.’
Bublik would win the following point, and subsequently the match (3-6, 7-6 (7), 5-7).
Alexander Bublik sets up a bumper clash against Jack Draper
Musetti’s failure to tap in the simplest of points will likely leave him furious, but it does set up a bumper showdown tomorrow morning.
After all, it pits the enthralling Bublik against Great Britain’s Jack Draper, who showed style and steel as he knocked out the top seed Tommy Paul in straight sets (6-1, 6-4) just a day after controversy stuck in his 2024 opener.
The towering lefty, who produced a stellar display in Australia, will be hoping to give himself the best possible platform for success witj the first grand slam of the year just next week.
And that aforementioned win could be crucial given he may well face Paul again in the Australian Open second round.
Regardless, this Adelaide International is certain to enjoy a grandstand finish before then, with Musetti forced to watch from the sidelines a match that he arguably should be starring in.
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