PARIS — Italy's Lorenzo Musetti, the eighth seed at this year's French Open, continued his impressive clay-court form with a commanding 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 victory over German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in the first round at Roland Garros.
The 22-year-old, who recently claimed his third ATP title in Cagliari and reached the semifinals in Monte Carlo, needed just one hour and 42 minutes to dispatch Hanfmann, showcasing his trademark one-handed backhand and tactical versatility on the red dirt.
Musetti's Dominant Start
From the opening game, Musetti imposed his rhythm, breaking Hanfmann's serve in the fourth game with a series of precise drop shots and deep groundstrokes. The Italian won 84% of his first-serve points in the opening set, never facing a break point.
"I felt really good from the beginning," Musetti said in his post-match interview. "The conditions were perfect for my game—cooler temperatures helped the ball stay in my strike zone. I knew I had to be aggressive against Yannick, who can be dangerous if given time."
Tactical Mastery on Display
Musetti's performance highlighted several key strengths that make him a growing threat on clay:
- Exceptional court positioning that neutralized Hanfmann's power
- A 73% success rate on net approaches (22/30)
- Only 12 unforced errors compared to Hanfmann's 28
The second set saw Musetti elevate his game further, breaking Hanfmann three times while maintaining a first-serve percentage of 78%. His backhand down-the-line winner in the fifth game drew roars from Court Suzanne-Lenglen's crowd.
Turning Point: Third Game of Second Set
At 1-1 in the second set, Musetti played what commentators called "a near-perfect clay-court game":
- A 128 km/h kick serve ace out wide
- Two consecutive backhand crosscourt winners
- A disguised drop shot that left Hanfmann stranded
"That sequence broke Hanfmann's spirit," noted former champion Mats Wilander on Eurosport. "Musetti has developed this ability to shift gears mid-match that separates contenders from pretenders at Grand Slams."
Closing With Authority
The third set followed a similar pattern, with Musetti converting all three break point opportunities while saving the only break point he faced. His service games averaged just 90 seconds as he consistently opened the court with wide serves.
Hanfmann, who came through three qualifying matches, admitted afterward: "Lorenzo was simply too good today. When he's controlling points with that forehand and mixing in the slice backhand, there aren't many players who can stay with him on clay."
Looking Ahead
Musetti will face either French wildcard Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Japan's Taro Daniel in the second round. With Novak Djokovic potentially awaiting in the quarterfinals, the Italian remains focused on incremental progress:
"I'm not thinking about later rounds or rankings. My team and I have worked hard to peak at Roland Garros—you can see that in how I'm moving and constructing points. But every match here requires maximum concentration."
Statistically, Musetti's victory marked his 20th clay-court win of 2024 (against just 5 losses), placing him behind only Stefanos Tsitsipas (23) and Casper Ruud (22) in that category this season.
Expert Analysis
Tennis Channel analyst Paul Annacone highlighted Musetti's improved physical conditioning: "Last year he might have faded in third sets. Now he's maintaining racket head speed deep into matches—that's the sign of a player ready to make the leap."
The victory extends Musetti's perfect record against Hanfmann to 3-0, with all meetings occurring on clay. Their previous encounter in Monte Carlo last month also went to Musetti in straight sets, though this performance was notably more dominant.
Conclusion
With his fluid movement, tactical intelligence, and growing confidence, Musetti appears primed for a deep run in Paris. His next match, likely against Daniel, presents another opportunity to build rhythm before potential tests against higher-ranked opponents.
As the Italian left the court to warm applause, he turned to his box and clenched his fist—a gesture that suggested this might just be the beginning of something special in the City of Light.