Lorenzo Musetti is the last Italian standing at the Shanghai Masters, which is rare considering the dominance of Jannik Sinner over the past couple of years.
Musetti came through a tricky match with fellow Italian player Luciano Darderi in two sets, winning 7-5, 7-6 against the number 26 seed.
Only eight players have beaten Sinner since late 2023, and after his retirement from the tournament against Tallon Griekspoor, the hopes of Italy now weigh on the shoulders of Musetti.
Musetti has struggled with injuries himself this year but he does look to be on track for a good run in Shanghai, with Felix Auger Aliassime to play next.
Sinner received a message of support from Griekspoor after the retirement, and now Musetti has issued a little update on Sinner, which has come straight from his coach.
- READ MORE: What Lorenzo Musetti complained about during match with Alejandro Tabilo earlier this year
Jannik Sinner’s coach delivers update on his fitness to Lorenzo Musetti
Speaking after his match against Darderi yesterday, Musetti was asked if he’d had an update on the fitness of Sinner and it would appear that all is indeed well.
Musetti managed to speak to one of the player’s entourage the morning after he withdrew following a severe case of cramp, and it shouldn’t be long before he’s back on the court.
The 23-year-old said: “I haven’t heard from Jannik since yesterday’s retirement, but I met his coach, Simone Vagnozzi, for breakfast this morning and he didn’t seem worried at all.
“He told me that Sinner had already left, so I imagine we will see him in action at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia and then at the Vienna ATP 500.”
Sinner and Musetti will lead Davis Cup charge in November
There will be an added incentive for Sinner and Musetti to win the Davis Cup this year, given that the finals will be held in Bologna when they get underway in November.
Italy will face Austria when the finals get underway next month and the hope will be that the world number two can finish the year with a win for his country too.
With Sinner joining a host of players in withdrawing it would seem that the ATP now have some decisions to make about staging this tournament in Shanghai when the weather is so hot.
However, it seems as though it was nothing more than a bout of cramp for Sinner and hopefully his fans can see him back on the court very soon.
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