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With no extra Frenchmen and no different Italians left within the draw, Lorenzo Musetti is the one remaining participant with any form of home-court benefit on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. However might be sufficient for him to beat a red-hot Alex de Minaur within the semifinals on Saturday?
This marks the third matchup between these two gamers and the head-head collection is tied 1-1. De Minaur prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 on the 2022 Australian Open earlier than Musetti additionally got here again from a set right down to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 final summer time at Queen’s Membership.
Each of these had been first-round affairs, however the stakes are a lot greater this time round with a spot in a Masters 1000 championship match on the road. It’s an particularly massive one for Musetti, who had by no means earlier than superior this far at a 1000-point occasion. The world No. 16’s stellar type courting again to final summer time has continued in Monte-Carlo with victories over Bu Yunchaokete, Jiri Lehecka, Matteo Berrettini, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.