The first is a heart with a tennis racket in the middle, the second is a ship’s anchor with “family” written on it and the third is a phrase shared with his coach: “Il meglio deve ancora venire.”
It translates: “The best is yet to come.”
Well, Musetti has saved the best tennis of his fledgling career for the grass of the All England Club and, to be specific, in the fifth set of a three-and-a-half hour marathon against American favourite Fritz. After four sets of back and forth, momentum swings aplenty, Musetti wiped out Fritz 6-1 in the final set with a stunning array of old-school, grass-court tennis.
We’re talking exquisite drop shots, caressed backhand slices and carefully placed volleys. And, of course, some spectacular single-handed backhands. Lump in a host of variety alongside deep-rooted aggression and you get this: a player right at the top of his game on the slick grass of Wimbledon. And after taking Novak Djokovic to five sets and 3am at Roland Garros a month or so ago, the Italian will be quietly confident of an upset against the Serb in the final four tomorrow.
“I mean, I probably have no words,” he said after reaching his first major semi-final. “It’s tough to speak, but I’ll try my best. I think I [haven’t] realised yet what I’ve done.
この記事は The Independent の July 11, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は The Independent の July 11, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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