Lorenzo Musetti said that he and Novak Djokovic found the lighter side of the surreal sequence of events that resulted in the Italian getting a berth in the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.
The 2024 Olympic bronze medalist thought he’d fallen just short of securing the eighth and final spot in Turin after losing a grueling Hellenic Championship final to Djokovic on Sunday. But his disappointment faded quickly as soon as the handshake, when Djokovic revealed to Musetti that he was pulling out of the year-end tournament due to a lingering shoulder injury
Speaking to reporters after arriving on home soil, Musetti said all’s well that ends well.
Read more: Lorenzo Musetti to make career debut at ATP Finals in Turin after Novak Djokovic withdraws
Q. Your thoughts on getting in? Also, do you think Novak should have made a decision a lot earlier than he did about electing to play or not to play? What was your immediate reaction when you found out?
LORENZO MUSETTI: Well, I think Novak, he was completely in the rules of the ATP, of the tournament itself. Of course, I think the strange situation was that he was playing literally the week before the Masters. That could be a little bit strange for a player who is already qualified. But that’s the only thing.
Of course, when he told me at the net after the match that he was not coming, honestly we had a laugh about it. I was curious all week. I was curious if he was coming or not.
Of course, I was trying to focus on myself. I think I made a good work at that, even if I didn’t win the final.
