Musetti prevails in all-Italian battle to reach Melbourne third round
Lorenzo Musetti (No.5) matched his career-best Australian Open result on Thursday, delivering a clinical 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over long-time friend and compatriot Lorenzo Sonego.
Lorenzo Musetti, Australian Open 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Lorenzo Musetti secured a place in the Australian Open third round for the second consecutive year on Thursday, defeating compatriot and close friend Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-3 6-4. The fifth seed utilized his signature one-handed backhand to dictate play throughout the two-hour contest, maintaining his clinical start to the 2026 season and setting up a third-round encounter against Stefanos Tsitsipas or Tomas Machac.
The match, held on Margaret-Court Arena, was as much a mental test as a physical one for the 23-year-old Musetti. Facing a player he considers one of his closest confidants on the ATP Tour, Musetti broke Sonego’s serve early in each of the first two sets.
Sonego, who reached the quarterfinals in Melbourne last year, appeared to struggle physically as the match progressed, particularly in the third set where his lateral movement was noticeably hampered. Despite the injury concerns, Sonego continued to compete until the final ball, but he was unable to find a breakthrough against Musetti’s precise serving and variety.
Musetti 5-1 record for the 2026 season
Sonego will lose 20 rankings in ten days, down to the 60th ranking approximately.
“It was not an easy match against one of my best friends on tour,” Musetti said during his post-match interview. “On court everyone wants to win. That’s not a secret. But it’s never easy to prepare for the match, to stay focused with the right attitude. I’ve done it today. I’m really, really proud of myself.”
Musetti’s victory moves him to a 5-1 record for the 2026 season, a start that validates his recent ascent into the world’s top five. His ability to maintain focus against a familiar opponent was the key to the victory, as he struck 32 winners and committed only 18 unforced errors. The win also levels his career head-to-head against Sonego at 2-2, avenging a loss to his countryman at the Paris Masters late last year.
The fifth seed now turns his attention to Francisco Cerundolo, the 18th seed, who advanced to the third round earlier in the day. Musetti and Cerundolo have developed a competitive rivalry on clay, but this will be their first meeting on the fast hard courts of the Australian Open. With a potential fourth-round clash against defending champion Jannik Sinner on the horizon, Musetti’s current form suggests he is a serious contender to surpass his career-best result in Melbourne.
