High Stakes For Musetti In His Clay-Court Return

Lorenzo Musetti enjoyed the most productive burst of his career on the European clay last season. A first ATP Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo and semi-finals in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros underpinned his ultimate rise to the Top 5 for the first time in his career.

Now the bill has come due.

With 2,250 points to defend throughout the clay season – more than half of all points counting towards his current PIF ATP Ranking of No. 5 – Musetti faces unprecedented pressure to back up his stellar 2025 run on the red dirt.

But after a 10-day training block at home at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, and the confidence of reaching last year’s final, Musetti has every reason to be hopeful of another deep run in the Principality.

“Last year I had some great memories in Monaco and hopefully it will be even better,” Musetti told ATP Media Saturday.

“It was really important to start well as it gave me the confidence to chase my dream to break into the Top 10, which I did in Madrid. In Rome I continued to play better and then to make the semis in Roland Garros was such a good change of attitude and confidence in myself. That’s what I’m trying to bring more of this year.

“Hopefully I can start well again this year on clay.”

Musetti has a strong 12-5 record in Monte-Carlo. Last year he claimed consecutive wins over Matteo Berrettini, three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and Top 10 Australian Alex de Minaur en route to the title match, in which he took a set from Carlos Alcaraz.

In 2023, he stunned Novak Djokovic in a tough three-setter to reach the quarter-finals.

Musetti has played just one match since retiring with a leg injury against Djokovic in the Australian Open quarter-finals when he led two sets to love. He lost in the first round of Indian Wells and skipped Miami due to a right arm injury.

“It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one, giving me more time to prepare well for the clay season,” he said of the decision to miss Miami. “Hopefully here I’ll be showing my tennis 100 per cent.

“I’ve been practising for 10 days on clay. Living here in Monaco makes it easy. I’ve been able to enjoy my family and my daily routine. It won’t be easy to come back after such a long stop, but I’m really looking forward to starting again.

“I’m so excited to be healthy again and to be ready to compete. I’ve been missing the competition. The clay season has always been my favourite part of the year.”

Seeded fourth, Musetti has a bye in the first round and will begin his campaign against Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot or a qualifier.