Lorenzo Musetti continued his stellar clay-court campaign in style on June 1, defeating the unpredictable Holger Rune 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to book a spot in the French Open quarter-finals for the first time in his career.
The seventh-ranked Italian will next face American 15th seed Frances Tiafoe for a place in the semi-finals, as he looks to extend a season marked by greater consistency and maturity on court.
Rune, seeded 10th, was aiming for a third Roland Garros quarter-final but was once again thwarted by a top-10 opponent at a Grand Slam, continuing his struggles against elite competition.
“Last night I was dreaming about this match against Holger, and in my dream, I played at this level. I had to be at my best, and I’m really proud of myself tonight,” Musetti said after the win.
Coming into Paris with semi-final appearances at all three clay Masters tournaments, Musetti has clearly refined his game. “I complain less now, I’m more steady,” he added.
The 23-year-old made a strong start, breaking Rune in the opening game and racing to a 2-0 lead. Though Rune settled briefly, holding after fending off a break point, the first set was messy, with both players exchanging breaks and Rune struggling with unforced errors. Musetti held his nerve and capitalized on Rune’s inconsistency to edge the set.
Rune responded in the second, switching to a more aggressive style and frequently charging the net. The adjustment worked as he earned a crucial break and closed the set with a commanding smash to draw level.
But Musetti soon reasserted control. As Rune’s game began to unravel in the third and fourth sets, Musetti found his rhythm—particularly with his elegant one-handed backhand and pinpoint passing shots. He broke early in both sets, including a decisive forehand winner in the third’s opening game, and maintained steady pressure.
Rune’s final resistance crumbled when he missed a routine forehand with an open court in the fourth set. Musetti sealed the match with an ace—his first victory over Rune in three meetings.
Addressing a loyal group of fans in Italian, Musetti said: “To all the Italians here in Paris—thank you for staying so late. Your support pushed me to my limits.”
