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Lorenzo Musetti is making a strong case for claiming his first trophy of the year as he stormed into the semi-finals of the Chengdu Open. The 21-year-old Italian, seeded second in the tournament, showcased his exceptional skills on Sunday as he confidently defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech with a score of 6-3, 6-3. Musetti's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he exhibited remarkable flair and precision throughout the match, tallying an impressive 32 winners on the hard court.
In an interview following his victory, Musetti expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, "It was a step forward from yesterday. Yesterday's match gave me a lot of confidence, and today I started very well, breaking him immediately, and that was the key to my win. A really solid performance from the baseline, and I am really happy to be in the semi-finals." Musetti, who clinched two tour-level titles in 2022, now sets his sights on facing Roman Safiullin in the next round. Safiullin, currently ranked World No. 55, secured his spot in the semi-finals after his opponent, Jordan Thompson, was forced to retire, having lost the first set 7-6(1).
Zverev's Gritty Triumph and Ambitions
For Alexander Zverev, the journey to victory was no less challenging as he faced off against Miomir Kecmanovic, ultimately prevailing with a scoreline of 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. Zverev, the seventh-ranked player in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, has his eyes set on a strong Asian Swing to enhance his chances of qualifying for the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, an event he has previously won twice. In this thrilling three-hour battle, Zverev exhibited remarkable resilience and found his peak performance in the decisive third set, notably avoiding any unforced errors. This victory marks his seventh tour-level semi-final appearance this year.
In the upcoming semi-final match, Alexander Zverev is set to face Grigor Dimitrov, who secured his spot by defeating Christopher O'Connell with a score of 6-4, 6-1. Dimitrov, a Bulgarian player, has had an exceptional week, reaching his 400th tour-level victory during the second round. With his sights set on claiming his first title since the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals, Dimitrov is determined to make his mark in the Chengdu Open.