3-time winner Tsitsipas tumbled by Musetti

Inspired Italian Lorenzo Musetti ended the Monte Carlo Masters reign of Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday, dumping the three-time champion 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.

Tsitsipas, defending champion who also lifted the prestige title in 2021 and 2022, had won all five of the pair’s previous meetings.

But the Greek was buried by 32-unforced errors, converting a mere three of 17 break chances in the encounter lasting for almost two and a half hours.

Musetti broke it open in the third set, stopping the Tsitsipas serve as the Greek delivered his fifth double-fault to trail 3-4.

The Italian who reached the Wimbledon final four last summer, stretched his lead to 5-3 and earned the breakthrough victory two games later on his first match point as Tsitsipas returned wide.

Musetti was seen by the doctor briefly early in the match, but shook off his medical problem.

“In the first point of the match I felt something in my foot when I went for a drop shot,” he said. “I called the doctor to have a check.

“I was maybe a little confused and didn’t follow the game plan that we had in the first set. But after that I showed my tennis.”

The No. 16 added: “Today was a tough match, I did a good job today. I was able to increase my level throughout the match.

“I’m happy and proud of this win.”

Musetti will duel for the Sunday final against Aussie Alex deMinaur, a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Grigor Dimitrov.

Main photo:- Lorenzo Musetti winning against three time winner Stefanos Tsitsipas – by ISF Ltd