Lorenzo Musetti Happy to be Classified as ‘Reference of Italian Tennis’ Alongside Jannik Sinner

Lorenzo Musetti is gearing up for the Miami Open, the main draw of which started on March 17. The Italian will be bidding to win his first Big Title, while compatriot Jannik Sinner‘s goal will be to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Ahead of the tournament, the 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist made his feelings known on the state of Italian tennis, saying it warms his heart that he and his good friends Sinner and Flavio Cobolli have changed the image of Italian tennis.

Cobolli, Darderi, and Sinner, and I have known each other our whole lives. It’s wonderful to see guys my age, with whom I’ve shared trips and dreams, in these settings.

Lorenzo Musetti told Sky Sports

Cobolli, the 23-year-old ace, has already played four finals since 2024, winning the Romanian Open and the Hamburg European Open last year, while this year, he lifted the Mexican Open. Musetti is a nine-time finalist, winning two titles, both in 2022. Since the 2022 Tennis Napoli Cup, he has lost seven finals, including this year’s Hong Kong Open.

Looking back, we’ve been through a lot as kids. We’re the references for Italian tennis, and it’s wonderful to be together, especially because we’re friends.

Lorenzo Musetti added

Musetti will face the winner of the first round match between Rafael Jodar and Yannick Hanfmann in his campaign opener in Miami. He has never reached the quarterfinals.

Before arriving in Miami, four-time Grand Slam champion clinched his career’s first Indian Wells title by overcoming Daniil Medvedev in straight sets. In Miami, after defeats in the final in 2021 and 2023 to Hubert Hurkacz and Medvedev, respectively, Sinner finally tasted success in 2024 against Grigor Dimitrov and was forced to skip both the Sunshine Doubles last year due to his three-month doping ban.

Jannik Sinner says tennis needs someone like Daniil Medvedev

Before his defeat to Sinner, Medvedev downed Carlos Alcaraz, who was chasing his third title in the California desert. Sinner, who has now improved his head-to-head lead over the 2021 US Open champion to 9-7, said tennis needs someone like Medvedev because of his “unique” playing style.

No, I feel like he’s playing great, great tennis. He was very confident, you know, winning already couple of titles this year, and, you know, coming here, and then performing very, very well. We don’t have to forget he’s a Grand Slam champion, you know, and that’s for a reason. He played great tennis, serving very well, and I struggled to return, especially on the second-serve return. But, you know, I do believe that tennis needs him. He’s a very unique style of playing. Seeing him back at this level, it’s great. He’s improving a lot.

Jannik Sinner said at the press conference after his Indian Wells win

For Sinner, the title in the first Sunshine Doubles event was his first victory of the season because the eventual runner-up, Novak Djokovic, knocked him out in the semifinals of the Australian Open, while at the Qatar Open, Jakub Mensik beat him in the quarterfinals.

But Medvedev has won two titles already this season. After winning the Brisbane International for the first time this season, the Russian ace was given a walkover by Tallon Griekspoor in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Medvedev is now a three-time Indian Wells finalist, as prior to his defeat to Sinner, he lost the finals in 2023 and 2024 to Alcaraz. Sinner will play Ignacio Buse or Damir Dzumhur in his Miami Open opener, while Medvedev will lock horns with Aleksandar Kovacevic or Rei Sakamoto to kick-start his campaign in Miami. Last year in the tournament, he suffered an opening-round exit.

Also read: Daniil Medvedev Sends Clear Message on his Level Compared to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

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