Hong Kong Tennis Open: Lorenzo Musetti hails ‘tough mindset’ after overcoming Rublev
Italian No 1 seed recovers from losing first-set tiebreak to move within one victory of first title since 2022
Lorenzo Musetti said he was unfazed by the prospect of trying to end his finals hoodoo against Alexander Bublik in the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Sunday.
Italian Musetti outlasted Andrey Rublev on a packed Victoria Park Tennis Stadium on Saturday, coming through a see-saw semi-final 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 following two hours and 43 minutes of gripping tennis.
Bublik also recovered from losing the first set to beat Marcos Giron 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. It is the first time since 1996 that the top two seeds will contest the final at Victoria Park.
Musetti was made to work to the end by 2024 champion Rublev, who forced three break points as his opponent served for the match. The third arrived after Musetti came to the net for a straightforward volley, only for Rublev’s scrambling forehand to clip the net cord and loop apologetically beyond the Italian’s racquet.
“It was an unlucky point, I’d played it really well … it can happen in a long match, but I was in a tense moment,” Musetti said. “But with a great mentality I came back from that.
“I had to find solutions to the explosiveness of Andrey, and I’m so happy with the win. I fought hard, with a great mindset and attitude, and that was key to turning around the match.”