Lorenzo Musetti eliminated in the third round of the US Open 2024The Italian, seeded number 18, was defeated by the American Brandon Nakashima, number 50 in the ranking, who won 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in 3h12′.
It matches
Musetti finds no countermeasures against the opponent who plays a high level match on serve (17 aces and only 1 double fault) and exploits almost half of the break points created (5/11). Nakashima places more winners (49-40) and commits fewer unforced errors (30-37), hitting the key passages in the match.
The Italian started off badly, losing serve twice in the first set, but managed to get back on track in the second set, securing a break (3-0) and leading to a 6-3 victory.
The turning point in the third set is represented by the eighth game that Nakashima plays impeccably, producing the decisive break. The fourth set remains a huge regret for the Italian who runs away on 4-0 with a 2 break advantage before fading away.
Musetti, still ahead 4-2, has 2 chances to extend the lead further but doesn’t take advantage of them. Nakashima closes the gap thanks to the collaboration of the Tuscan, who in the eighth game helps the opponent catch up with 3 double faults, one after the other. It goes to a tie-break and Nakashima wins it, gaining the victory in the match.
The other matches
Frances Tiafoe wins US derby with Ben Shelton in 5 sets The 20th seed beat the 13th seed 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 after a 4:03 battle.
All smooth sailing for Russian Andrei Rublev seeded number 6, who defeated the Czech Jiri Lehecka, seeded number 32, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
Rublev will face the Bulgarian in the round of 16 Grigo Dimitrov, number 9 on the scoreboard, who takes 100 minutes to overcome Tabon Griekspoor per 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
American Taylor Fritz is also full steam aheadseeded number 12, who beat Argentine Francisco Comesana 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in 2 hours of play.
He will find the Norwegian Casper Ruud: The No. 8 seed suffers against China’s Juncheng Shang72nd in the ranking, and gets by with a laborious comeback in the fifth set for 6-7 (1-7), 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-1 after 3h44′