Musetti on the ATP Finals race: "It's crazy pressure"

In the thick of the race for a spot at the Turin Masters, Lorenzo Musetti opens up about the psychological difficulty. Eighth in the Race, the Italian sees his pursuers closing in on him at high speed.

At 23 years old, Lorenzo Musetti knows the stakes are high at this end of the season. Eighth in the Race with 3485 points, he holds the last qualifying spot for the prestigious Masters Tournament, but he is closely followed by Auger-Aliassime (3145), Ruud (2735), and even Medvedev (2560).

"It's not a very comfortable situation, even though it's a great opportunity. But I see that everyone behind me is playing incredibly well... It adds crazy pressure. I don't want to waste a second thinking about the points. I prefer to focus on the matches, going point by point."

The recent tournaments haven't given Musetti the hoped-for breathing room. Despite quarterfinals in Beijing and Antwerp, and a round of 16 in Shanghai, his performances struggle to impress in the face of the others' rising form.