Following his 7-6(1), 6-4 defeat to Lorenzo Musetti in the Italian Open 2025 quarter-final on May 14, Alexander Zverev expressed a need to “move forward” and refocus for the upcoming French Open. The defending champion, who struggled with Musetti’s tactical variety—particularly 20 drop shots, 15 of which Musetti won—acknowledged the Italian’s disruptive style. Zverev pinpointed the critical moment at 5-4, 40/0 in the first set, where he failed to convert three set points, allowing Musetti to claw back and dominate the tiebreak. “I got a bit destabilised after that,” Zverev admitted, noting Musetti’s unpredictability kept him “constantly on his toes.” He also criticized the tournament balls, claiming their lightness hindered his aggressive baseline game, especially against Musetti’s defensive play. Despite the loss, Zverev remained optimistic, emphasizing his strong 2025 clay season, including a Madrid Open semifinal run. “It’s one match. I have to move forward and prepare for Paris,” he said, referencing Roland Garros, where he reached the 2024 final. Zverev’s frustration was evident on social media, with fans on X noting his visible agitation during the match, but he vowed to channel it into his Grand Slam preparations. Musetti’s victory, his third in their 3-1 head-to-head, set up a semifinal against Casper Ruud, while Zverev now shifts focus to reclaiming form on the Parisian clay.
