Musetti sets Djokovic rematch after stopping Fils

Lorenzo Musetti produced a heavy-hitting performance Tuesday to oust #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-3, 7-5 at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where the Italian will next look to relive his stunning 2023 upset against top seed Novak Djokovic.

Musetti bruised the ball from the baseline with hefty spin and superb shotmaking as he fought off a late charge from the 19-year-old. Despite serving for the match at 5-2 and again at 5-4, Musetti won just one point across both service games. But the two-time tour-level titlist stayed focussed, eventually finding more first serves to close the one-hour, 40-minute match on his third attempt.

At No. 24 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Musetti on Thursday will meet World No. 1 Djokovic for a fourth time (1-2). Musetti last year beat the two-time tournament champion in the same round 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

“I think I played probably one of the best matches of the season, and that’s why I was leading [the match],” Musetti said. “At the end I was rushing a little bit or playing a little bit, let’s say, softer.

“It’s kind of fun, because it’s exactly one year, same tournament, same round, and same spot,” said Musetti on facing Djokovic. He will next aim for his second quarter-final of 2024 and as many in the Principality.

Musetti, who on Sunday secured his 100th tour-level match win, will aim to reach his second quarter-final of 2024 and as many in the Principality.

In other action Tuesday, Gael Monfils needed a late comeback to escape Australian lucky loser Aleksandar Vukic 6-7(7), 6-3, 7-5. The French wild card trailed 1-4 in the deciding set before tallying four consecutive games and eventually closing the match on a down-the-line backhand winner to the crowd’s delight.

Monfils hammered 47 winners to set a clash against fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, who he leads 2-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. After falling to Medvedev in their first encounter, Monfils has won their past two matches (2019 Rotterdam, 2022 Indian Wells). Wednesday will mark their first meeting on clay.

Fifth seed Alexander Zverev cruised past Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 after winning 79 per cent of his first-serve points. The German, who has twice reached the Monte-Carlo semi-finals, awaits 12th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the round of 16.