French Open tennis – Lorenzo Musetti produces TWO outrageous behind-the-back, shot-of-the-year contenders

ByMarcus Foley

Updated 05/06/2021 at 15:14 GMT

Lorenzo Musetti is ranked 76th in the world. But he is just 19 and is expected to be a leading light of Italian tennis in the years to come. The former US Open Junior finalist showed all his guile in his all-Italian third-round clash against Marco Cecchinato on Saturday with an incredible winner. He will face Novak Djokovic next.

Lorenzo Musetti produced TWO shot-of-the-year contenders in his third-round clash against Marco Cecchinato on Saturday.

The 19-year-old produced his first moment of mastery in the third set of a five-set tussle that Musetti won 3-6 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-3.

Cecchinato – seeing Musetti camped beyond the baseline – delivered an audacious underarm serve. Musetti was alert to it, but the return left Cecchinato in charge of the point, and he wrongfooted Musetti with a cross-court backhand.

Roland-Garros

‘I am living with an injury!’ – Nadal hopes to ‘keep living the dream’ despite chronic injury

00:01:56

|

03/06/2022 at 09:48

However, the 19-year-old managed to produce a behind-the-back backhand winner of his own to the amazement of those in attendance on Court 7.

Then later in the same set, he was at it again. The 19-year-old produced another behind-the-back piece of genius to hit a lobbed winner from what looked like an unsalvageable position.

The win moves Musetti into the fourth round of a Slam for the first time in his career and he will face Novak Djokovic next, who beat Ricardas Berankis 6-1 6-4 6-1.

Musetti does it again – Italian youngster produces incredible behind-the-back lob

---

Watch all the action from the 2021 French Open live on Eurosport, eurosport.co.uk and the Eurosport app with 13-time champion Rafael Nadal eyeing a remarkable 14th title at his favourite event and 2020 Roland Garros sensation Iga Swiatek aiming to replicate her stunning triumph.

Roland-Garros

Djokovic appears free to play Roland Garros as France lifts vaccine pass rules

03/03/2022 at 14:02

Roland-Garros

Djokovic can play in French Open without a vaccine - sports minister

07/01/2022 at 12:39

Roland-Garros

'I'm very proud' - Mauresmo becomes first female tournament director of Roland Garros

09/12/2021 at 12:19