lorenzo musetti became the 11th ATP Tour champion of the season on Sunday when he won a thrilling Hamburg European Open final against Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4.
The Italian let five championship points slip away in the second set but managed to weather Alcaraz’s storm in the third set to lift the ATP 500 trophy.
ATPTour.com spoke to the 20-year-old after the match about his breakthrough, his relationship with his coach, Simone Tartarini, why he idolized his grandfather and his pre-match playlist.
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What does winning your first ATP Tour title mean to you?
For me it is a dream. Obviously I always dreamed of winning a title and before that I had no chance. I think my best result was a semi-final, so I never had a chance to play in a final. I am very happy with this week. I think we did an amazing job and now we will celebrate and enjoy it for the next few days, but we have to focus on Umag and the rest of the year.
What was going through your mind after the second set and how were you able to fight back?
It was a very tough loss in the second set. I think I deserved to close the match in straight sets, but then some bad luck things. [happened] and Carlos was very good saving so many match points. I was upset with myself with everything, but I tried to find the solution and the solution was to find the rhythm and the energy again. That ‘s what I did. I am very happy that I never gave up and it worked out in the end.
You had a good start to your career, but you hadn’t made it to a final before this week. How focused was it for you to lift a trophy?
I never had the opportunity to get to a final and now to get to the final and lift the trophy is something really fantastic for me. It’s the first time, so I have no words to describe how it feels. It is something you always dream of when you are a child, when you are working and sacrificing. The emotions that I had today, I will keep in my heart and in my head for a long time.
Watch the best final moments:
You mentioned that you arrived here a little sick and without luggage. Can you tell us a little more about that?
I arrived here on Thursday from Bastad and with all the strikes, one of my luggage [bags] it got lost. [It was] rackets, so I was a little worried about how he would play, because he was still ranked. then i entered [the main draw]so I managed to pick up the rackets.
The night before the games started, I threw up all night. I had food poisoning so I felt a little sick. I didn’t expect to get as far as I did, so I’m happy that my luck has changed in this tournament.
He has often spoken about his relationship with his coach, Simone Tartarini. What importance has it had on your growth as a player and as a person?
Simone and I are one thing together. We really have this special feeling. He is more than a coach and a player, he is like father and son. I consider him as my second father and I always believed in him as a person and as a tennis coach.
He always tried to improve me on and off the court and educate me in the best way. That’s what I need to be competitive like I was today. I just want to thank you for all the support you have given me.
You said your grandfather is your hero. Can you explain why?
My grandfather was a very honest man, a genuine man and I wish in the future to be like him. He’s sad because he passed away a long time ago, so he can’t see what I’ve become. Sometimes it’s hard to think about that, but I would like to describe him as my hero.
Watch the history of Hamburg 2022:
Now that you have won a title, what is your next goal and why?
I have to win next week! Win next week and try to win more and more. To try to play even better than today, try to grow and try to have the ability to maintain this level throughout the year. Hopefully there will be more and more lifting trophies.
What do you consider to be your greatest passion outside of tennis? Can you tell us a bit about that interest?
I always like to listen to music. I’m always with my headphones and speaker in the room and always traveling with so many things related to music. I always had the passion since I was a child.
My father probably passed on the passion for music to me since I was a child, especially early music. Nope [music from] my age, [but] Rock from the 80s or 90s and things like that. I would like one day to go to a concert of a rock artist because I have not had the opportunity. I think my first passion outside of tennis is definitely music.
You’ve said how much you listen to classic rock music. What were the songs on your playlist before today’s game?
Before the match I have my own pre-match playlist. I think that’s one of my favorite bands, Linkin Park. I listened to a lot of Linkin Park songs today. The most memorable was Papercut because it gave me a kind of extra energy during the warm-up.
You have already achieved a lot with only 20 years. What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career so far?
That hard work pays off and that you can never expect things. When you expect things, they won’t happen. When you don’t expect it and just work for it, it will come. I think that’s the most important thing for me.
How are you going to celebrate your first title?
Probably with a dinner with my team, but not a big celebration because we are going to fly to Umag tomorrow. We have to be Italian, but not too much.