Musetti Advances to Quarter-Finals at Australian Open, Fritz Details Injuries
Lorenzo Musetti defeated Taylor Fritz in straight sets at the Australian Open, securing his place in the quarter-finals.
Taylor Fritz, ranked World No. 9, reported managing both an obliques ailment and a knee injury during the match and indicated he would take time off from tennis for recovery. Musetti is now scheduled to face Novak Djokovic in the next round.
Musetti's Straight-Sets Victory
Lorenzo Musetti defeated Taylor Fritz with a score of 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. This victory marks Musetti's first quarter-final appearance at a hard court Grand Slam event, having previously reached this stage at Wimbledon and Roland Garros.
During the match, Musetti served 13 aces compared to Fritz's 10. Musetti's fastest serve was recorded as 3.2 km/h quicker than Fritz's, and his first serve percentage stood at 68% against Fritz's 60%.
Musetti will advance to face 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals. The two players have met ten times previously, with Musetti securing one victory on clay in 2023. Notably, Musetti competed in the match without his coach and physio, who had returned to Italy for personal reasons. He also mentioned missing his family, including his second son born in November.
Fritz's Injury Woes and Recovery Plans
Taylor Fritz reportedly began the match with strapped sides and was observed managing an obliques ailment throughout the game. This was in addition to a knee injury he had been managing earlier in the tournament. Following his second-round victory, the obliques issue reportedly worsened, leading to an ultrasound and an MRI. Fritz identified the injury as similar to one he experienced in the previous year.
Following his defeat, Fritz stated his intention to take a break from tennis to recover fully.
He emphasized his primary focus on achieving "100 per cent healthy" status, underscoring the importance of being fully recovered to resume regular training and practice.