Musetti celebrates Top 5 debut with hard-fought win as Collignon retires in distress
Lorenzo Musetti benefited from the abandonment of Raphael Collignon (4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 3-2 ret.) on Tuesday
Lorenzo Musetti, 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
Lorenzo Musetti, the 23-year-old number 5 seed, successfully navigated his opening match as a member of the world top five on Tuesday night, advancing to the second round of the Australian Open following the retirement of Belgium’s Raphael Collignon.
The contest was a physical marathon that spanned over three hours before the 23-year-old Collignon, currently ranked 72nd, was forced to stop with Musetti leading 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5, 3-2.
The match served as the grand slam debut for Musetti since he reached a career-high ranking of number 5 on January 12, 2026, following his run to the final in Hong Kong. He became only the third Italian man in history to achieve this ranking milestone.
significant momentum for Collignon
However, the celebration was nearly spoiled by Collignon, who entered the match with significant momentum after recent upsets over Alex de Minaur and Grigor Dimitrov. The Belgian took the first set and pushed the world number five into a grueling physical battle that eventually took its toll on the underdog.
According to reports, Collignon suffered from severe dizziness and full-body cramping as the match progressed into the fourth set. The 72nd-ranked player had already shown signs of physical distress during the third set and was unable to continue despite receiving medical attention on court.
Collignon has a history of physical struggles in high-intensity matches, having previously dealt with severe cramping during a Davis Cup win over De Minaur in late 2025.
Musetti now moves forward to an all-Italian second-round matchup against Lorenzo Sonego. Sonego, who defeated Musetti in their most recent singles encounter at the Paris Masters in late 2025, advanced with a four-set victory earlier in the day. The upcoming clash will be a high-stakes meeting between two compatriots who recently teamed up to win the doubles title in Hong Kong earlier this month.
