Lorenzo Musetti Apologizes for Controversial Chinese Comments at Beijing Open

Lorenzo Musetti to face Adrian Mannarino in the second round of the China Open after winning a thrilling opener.

Lorenzo Musetti Apologizes for Controversial Chinese Comments at Beijing Open

Lorenzo Musetti (image via ATP)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Lorenzo Musetti found himself at the center of controversy after making remarks about the Chinese crowd during his match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the China Open in Beijing. The 23-year-old has been enjoying a strong run of form this Asian swing after finishing as a finalist at the ATP 250 tournament in Chengdu.

Musetti began the first round match with more intensity than his French opponent, but he began to struggle towards the end of the first set. He needed a flash of brilliance in the tiebreak to claim the set, getting a good start in the game. He continued with the same momentum in the second set, but later allowed Perricard into the game.

During the tiebreak, he served to take the lead 5-3, but got it wrong with a poor volley after Mpetshi Perricard had returned smartly. That let him voice his frustration while the camera was on him. He complained about the noise from the crowd, claiming that the persistent coughing from spectators while serving disrupts him: “Those f***ing Chinese… They cough all the time!”

The clip showing Musetti’s frustration gained several reactions on social media. In fact, it has been reported that it was posted on several Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and Douyin, where the controversy exploded, leaving the Italian star’s image in bad shape from the view of host fans.

On Saturday (September 27), Musetti took to social media apologizing for his remarks during his clash against Mpetshi Perricard. The former World No.8 revealed that his words were never in any way to hurt the Chinese people, while adding that he deeply regrets his statement and feels very remorseful:

My words were directed only at a few individuals in the crowd who were coughing repeatedly and disturbing the play. They were never, in any way, meant for the Chinese people. It happened in a moment of stress and tension in the second tiebreak, but still, this is no excuse at all. I realise that the way I expressed myself was wrong and inappropriate, and it hurt many Chinese fans’ feelings. I deeply regret it and feel very remorseful.

Musetti needed to fight until the end to beat Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(3), (4)6-7, 6-3 to reach the second round of the China Open. He fired 20 winners and 14 aces during the clash. It was his first match since losing to Alejandro Tabilo in the final of the Chengdu Open, a match he was the favorite to win and earned more winners.

Lorenzo Musetti boosted his chances of being at the ATP Finals for the first time in his career

Lorenzo Musetti dropped out of the top 10 of the ATP rankings after a poor run of form at Wimbledon until the Cincinnati Open. The Italian star had reached a career-high of World No.6 after reaching the semi-finals of the French Open for the first time in his career. There he was forced to retire from the match against Carlos Alcaraz due to injury.

Lorenzo Musetti (via X/Wimbledon)
Lorenzo Musetti (via X/Wimbledon)

It took over a month for the 23-year-old to get back to form despite his quick return to the court from injury. It was at the US Open that Musetti finally showed his brilliance on the court, reaching his first Flushing Meadows quarter-finals. But he couldn’t get past that round as he fell to fellow compatriot Jannik Sinner in straight sets.

However, following his run at the Chengdu Open, Musetti had gotten back into the Top 10 of the ATP rankings. The Italian star is currently ranked World No.9 and has boosted his chances of competing at the ATP Finals for the first time in his career. He dropped just one set at the tournament en route to the final, gaining 165 points.

However, he squandered his chances of winning his first ATP title since 2022 after losing to Alejandro Tabilo in the final. He’s now focused on continuing with his momentum at the China Open, where he will face Adrian Mannarino in the second round.

Also Read: Daniil Medvedev Says There’s no Hard Feelings Between Him and Former Coach Gilles Cervara Despite Their Split