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Sinner on Djokovic-Alcaraz Olympic clash: 'We don't see this level every day’

Jannik Sinner may be in Montreal focusing on preparations for this week’s Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers, but that did not stop the World No. 1 from taking some time on Sunday to tune into one of the most gripping finals in Olympic Tennis Event history.

Despite his disappointment at missing Paris 2024 due to tonsilitis, Sinner joined millions of fans around the world in enjoying the latest Lexus ATP Head2Head clash between two of his biggest rivals, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

“It was a very high-level match, I think everyone agrees with that,” said Sinner on Monday, when asked for his key takeaways from Djokovic’s victory after two tie-break sets. “It was a very physical match. When two of the best players in the world face each other at the moment, they produce something very special, so it was a pleasure to watch this kind of match and I think everyone really enjoyed. We don't see this level every day, so it was an amazing match.”

As a 14-time tour-level champion, Sinner has become increasingly accustomed to the feeling of clinching a title. The 22-year-old ended his wait for a maiden Grand Slam title at January’s Australian Open, but he was quick to recognise the unique circumstances of Djokovic’s Olympic gold, a prize that had until Sunday eluded the Serbian across a career spanning nearly two decades.

“Of course I understand [his reaction], but I think he understands it more than anyone else,” said Sinner, when asked about Djokovic’s highly emotional celebrations after clinching the Career ‘Golden Slam’ in Paris. “He tried so hard to get this medal, which was the last thing he needed to accomplish. He knew this in his mind.

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Reliving Mic’d Up: Looking back at the historic innovation in Washington

Sebastian Korda lifted the Mubadala Citi DC Open trophy on Sunday evening for the biggest title of his career, marking the end of a history-making week for the American.

The 24-year-old claimed his first ATP 500 crown, joining father Petr Korda on the event’s champions’ list. But he also became one of the first four ATP Tour players to wear a live microphone during a match. The innovation was part of the 2024 ATP Tour Doubles Trial.

Korda, doubles partner Alex Michelsen, Harri Heliovaara and Jamie Murray all participated. Heliovaara, who last month won the Wimbledon doubles title with Henry Patten, became the first player to wear the live mic in his first-round match.

The Finnish player also wore in his second-round match, a loss alongside Patten. Heliovaara explained that he is always happy to do what he can to promote doubles and the players, so it was an easy decision to participate once he felt comfortable with the equipment.

“I think we need personalities, more stars in the doubles part of this game and the microphones are a great way to make that a little easier on court. I felt very comfortable with the microphone, it didn't bother me at all, the technology. I didn't have to think anything if I'm saying something stupid or not,” Heliovaara said. “I’m pretty open about my tennis career anyway so I felt very comfortable with wearing the microphone.”

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Sinner defends Canada crown in Montreal; Zverev, Medvedev in action

The best players in the world are set for the sixth ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Montreal.

World No. 1 and defending Toronto champion Jannik Sinner leads the field with Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev also in action. ATPTour.com looks at 10 storylines to watch over the coming week.

1) Defending Champion Sinner: After withdrawing from the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis, the Italian will make his first appearance since the Wimbledon quarter-finals. Last year’s title run in Toronto marked Sinner’s first Masters 1000 crown. Now the 22-year-old returns to Canadian soil as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, boasting a 42-4 season record.

2) Zverev Aims For Second Title Of Season: The second seed Zverev has fond memories in Montreal, where he won the title in 2017. Zverev, who this year lifted the trophy at the Masters 1000 event in Rome, leads the ATP Tour this season with 44 match wins.

3) Can Medvedev Master Montreal?: The third seed has lightheartedly said that he is a hard-court specialist. Now back on his beloved surface for the first time since March in Miami, Medvedev is aiming for his first title since Rome last year. A six-time Masters 1000 titlist, the 28-year-old won the Canadian event in 2021, when the tournament was held in Toronto.

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Korda breaks Top 20, Mover of Week

The North American hard-court swing continued at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, where Sebastian Korda won the title. ATPTour.com looks at the movers of the week in the PIF ATP Rankings as of Monday, 5 August.

[ATP APP]

No. 18 Sebastian Korda, +4 (Career High)
The 24-year-old has climbed into the Top 20 for the first time after he captured his second ATP Tour title and first since 2021 in Washington, where he became the first American man to win the trophy ATP 500 event since Andy Roddick in 2007. By triumphing, Korda also matched his father Petr Korda’s achievement of winning the D.C. title in 1992. The Kordas are the first father-son duo to win the same title in ATP Tour history. Korda now holds a 2-6 record in tour-level finals.

No. 33 Flavio Cobolli, +15 (Career High)
The Italian has jumped to a career-high after he reached his maiden tour-level final in Washington. Cobolli played four consecutive three-set matches, including the title match. The 22-year-old defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Alex Michelsen and Ben Shelton at the hard-court event.

No. 77 Alexandre Muller, +22
The 27-year-old has soared 22 spots after he won an ATP Challenger Tour title in San Marino. The Frenchman did not drop a set en route to the final and then beat Chun-Hsin Tseng in three sets. It is Muller’s third Challenger Tour crown.

Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz, +1 (Career High)
No. 12 Tommy Paul, +1 (Joint Career High)
No. 30 Jordan Thompson (Career High), +3
No. 55 Alex Michelsen, +5 (Joint Career High)
No. 71 Sumit Nagal, +4
No. 73 Federico Coria, +6
No. 74 Rinky Hijikata, +6
No. 75 Botic van de Zandschulp, +9
No. 81 Thanasi Kokkinakis, +10

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Rune, Tsitsipas, Monfils reflect on Djokovic's win: 'He's completed tennis in a way'

While Novak Djokovic battled Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday in Paris for the Olympic singles gold medal, the rest of the ATP Tour’s stars were in Montreal, preparing for the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers. Dozens watched the match in the players’ lounge, including No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner and his team.

After the match, the world’s best players were in awe of Djokovic’s accomplishment. The Serbian defeated Alcaraz to complete his set of ‘Big Titles’. He has won all four Grand Slam tournaments, all nine ATP Masters 1000 events, the Nitto ATP Finals and now the Olympic singles gold medal.

Holger Rune thought the match was “incredible”.

“I think if there's one person that deserves it so much, it's Novak. He's completed tennis in a way,” Rune told ATPTour.com. “He's taking tennis to another level. He's just the greatest. I take massive inspiration from him and I think he's a very nice guy as well.

“Novak is 37 now and winning the gold medal, I think it shows a little bit on the level he is producing. I think it's completely incredible. Hopefully we'll still see him a few more years on the Tour so we can compete against him.”

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Like father, like son: Korda rallies to win Washington title

Playing in his eighth tour-level singles final, Sebastian Korda won his second and biggest title at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 triumph filled with significance.

In becoming the first American man to win the Washington crown since Andy Roddick in 2007, the home favourite also matched his father, Petr Korda, who won the D.C. title in 1992. The Kordas are the first father-son duo to win the same title in ATP Tour history. Looking forward, the triumph set Korda up to rise to a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 18 on Monday.

"I've been coming to this tournament since I was a teenager," the 24-year-old Korda said in his trophy speech. "My dad used to coach Radek Stepanek, who also won here in 2011. We have a lot of history with this tournament, and obviously one of my biggest goals was one day coming here and hopefully winning the tournament and putting my name up there on the stadium. Now that I have the opportunity, this is probably the most special moment of my career so far."

Show time ?@SebiKorda and Cobolli are delivering in DC!@mubadalacitidc | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/1lnYkQ7HbE

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 5, 2024

After a two-hour delay due to rain and a three-set women's final, Korda dominated much of the match against first-time finalist Cobolli. But the Italian came up with one of the shots of the day on his first break point to snatch the opening set with a screaming forehand winner.

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Darderi, Giron among ATP stars to trade racquet for hockey stick in Montreal

ATP Tour stars traded racquets for sticks on Saturday ahead of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in the annual ATP Masters 1000 Canada ball hockey game.

Nuno Borges, Luciano Darderi, Alexis Galarneau, Marcos Giron, Miomir Kecmanovic and Vasek Pospisil played a team of PWHL stars and a ball hockey pro in a thrilling game. The hockey standouts eventually won in a nail-biting shootout.

“It’s amazing. It was very humbling. It’s fun to play though,” Giron said. “We always play tennis, but I think all of us tennis players grew up playing other sports and it’s always fun to give it a shot in another thing. But the hockey stick does not quite feel like an extension of the arm like a tennis racquet does.”


Marcos Giron shoots on net during Saturday's game. 
Borges had never previously played hockey, but had a great time trying to learn the sport.

“The fact that we struggled so much, at least me, I wanted to keep playing to improve because I couldn’t hit the ball. It was really hard,” Borges said. “You’d think we’d have a little advantage just knowing how to handle a racquet as an extension, but the stick is totally different. It was fun trying out a new sport with all the different gear, the gloves. It’s cool experimenting with stuff. I had a lot of fun.”

a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/alexis-galarneau/gk06/overview'Alexis Galarneau/a plays ball hockey Saturday in Montreal.
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Fonseca follows in Sinner’s footsteps with Lexington Challenger title

Joao Fonseca etched his name in the record books Sunday when the 17-year-old became the youngest Brazilian to win an ATP Challenger Tour title.

The #NextGenATP star, who strengthened his claim on sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, did not drop a set en route to his Lexington Challenger triumph. Competing in his second final at that level, Fonseca showed no signs of nerves as he defeated Australian Li Tu 6-1, 6-4 to clinch the trophy. The teenager fell on his back in relief after securing the milestone victory.

"I’m really happy to win my first title. It means a lot to me," Fonseca told commentator Bryan Fenley. "One year after my first big title, which was the US Open juniors. I’m really, really happy. It was not easy. Really hard work back home. I really want to thank my coaches, my parents, they’ve supported me my whole life, not only incentivising me to play tennis, but also with being a good kid with maturity. It’s really nice.”

The Lexington Challenger has featured a trio of 17-year-old champions since 2019, including Jannik Sinner, current World No. 1, who won the hard-court event five years ago Sunday. China’s Shang Juncheng triumphed in 2022. Coincidentally, Fonseca is just one day younger than Sinner was when the Italian won in Lexington.

Lexington is where the future shines ?

2019 ? Jannik Sinner
2024 ? Joao Fonseca#OnTheRise | @atptour pic.twitter.com/WmB84yK0Pi

a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/alexandre-muller/mp20/overview'Alexandre Muller/a at the San Marino Challenger.
a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/hugo-dellien/da31/overview'Hugo Dellien/a wins the Liberec Challenger.
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Lammons & Withrow claim Washington crown

Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow have jumped into Nitto ATP Finals qualifying contention after claiming their second title in as many weeks in the final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open Sunday.

After winning in Atlanta last week, the pair defeated Brazilian duo Marcelo Melo and Rafael Matos 7-5, 6-3 in the final in Washington. They became the first all-American champions at the ATP 500 since Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in 2015.

"Lucky for us it was a little hot and we could kind of bring the heat today," Lammons said during the trophy ceremony. "Thanks to my partner Jackson. We got some good momentum going the last couple of weeks. We love playing here in the States."

[ATP APP]

The Americans put on a strong display of serving, winning 87 per cent of their first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. They dropped just 10 points on serve and defended both break points against them en route to taking an eighth ATP Tour title as a pair.

After the home triumph, Withrow thanked the Washington fans for their support: "You guys have been amazing all week for us," he told the stadium crowd. "We feel the energy, we feel like you guys love doubles."

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Djokovic completes his Golden Slam puzzle: ‘I can’t wait for the celebration’

The long wait is over for Novak Djokovic.

After nearly two decades of consistently winning the biggest titles and breaking some of the most difficult records that tennis has to offer, the Serbian on Sunday finally added an Olympic gold medal to his sizeable collection of honours. Djokovic, who has long spoken of winning Olympic gold for his country as one of his most sought-after goals, was visibly emotional after overcoming Carlos Alcaraz in a gripping encounter in Paris.

“I’m overwhelmed with everything that I’m feeling right now,” said Djokovic in post-match comments to NBC. “Millions of different emotions of course: positive, too proud, too happy. The possibility to fight for a gold and to win a gold for the first time in my career for my country is arguably the biggest success I ever had.

“Of course, I want everything there is to win in my individual career, but winning Davis Cup and particularly the golden medal at an Olympic Games for Serbia at the age of thirty-seven is unprecedented. Just starting my celebration, I can’t wait for what’s coming up in the next forty-eight hours.”

37 years old.
Olympic #GOLD medalist.

#Paris2024 | #tennis pic.twitter.com/TefOG3XT2N

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Alcaraz's silver lining after Djokovic defeat: 'My moment will come'

There was no golden ending for Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yet despite his disappointment at his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the gold-medal match on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the Olympic flame inside the Spaniard remains well and truly alight.

"I always want to win, that’s for sure, but taking the silver medal, I have to be really proud,” said Alcaraz in post-match comments made to NBC. “I’m building a really great career and I hope it’s going to keep going.

“Honestly, I’m pretty proud to be in this position, I’m pretty proud to bring a medal to Spain. I’m pretty sure that my moment will come, and I will bring the gold medal to Spain one day. So I’m going to wait for that moment and I’m going to work for that moment, but right now I have to enjoy lifting the silver medal, it’s pretty amazing as well.”

Your #Paris2024 Men's Singles Olympic Medalists ?

? @DjokerNole ??
? @carlosalcaraz ??
? @Lorenzo1Musetti ??#Olympics | #tennis pic.twitter.com/4qY4HY5nt2

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 4, 2024

Alcaraz has good reason to feel confident about the future. Sunday’s loss was a rare low moment in what has otherwise been a largely stellar year for the Spaniard. He lifted his third and fourth major titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, respectively, while he also lifted his fifth ATP Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells in March.

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Djokovic extends big titles lead with Olympic gold

Novak Djokovic once again rewrote the record books on Sunday at the Paris Olympics

The 37-year-old defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a scintillating gold-medal match to claim his first Olympics gold medal. By doing so, the Serbian has now won every 'Big Title' up for offer and completed the Career Golden Slam.

Djokovic owns 72 'Big Titles', which are a combination of Grand Slam championships, trophies at the Nitto ATP Finals and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals. The Serbian has claimed at least one Big Title in 16 of the past 18 seasons.

No other player has won Olympic singles gold, a major and all nine Masters 1000 events. The Serbian owns the standalone men's record for championships at Grand Slams (24), Nitto ATP Finals (7) and Masters 1000s (40). 

The Olympics have long been Djokovic's white whale. A bronze medalist in Beijing, the Serbian finished fourth in London and Tokyo. After losing to Alcaraz in straight sets last month in the Wimbledon final, he flipped the script in Paris. 

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Luka Doncic, Matthew McConaughey, Roddick congratulate Djokovic on Olympic gold

Novak Djokovic completed his wish list on Sunday when he finally claimed an Olympic gold medal for the first time with his win against Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Paris Olympics.

Stars from inside and outside the tennis world quickly congratulated the Serbian. NBA star Luka Doncic, actor Matthew McConaughey, Juan Martin del Potro, Martina Navratilova and plenty more were among those who took to social media after the match ended.

ATPTour.com looks at some of those posts below.

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??? @DjokerNole

— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) August 4, 2024

GOAT wins GOLD. congratulations @DjokerNole

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Djokovic clinches thrilling opening set against Alcaraz in Paris Olympic final

Novak Djokovic is one set away from his first Olympic gold medal after overcoming Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(3) in a pulsating first set on Sunday afternoon in Paris.

Both Djokovic and his great rival Alcaraz showcased remarkable resilience under pressure as a set featuring 13 break points (Djokovic 5, Alcaraz 8) somehow reached a tie-break without a break of serve. The highlights included Alcaraz rallying from 0/40 to hold in the fourth game, while Djokovic pulled through a see-saw ninth game, packed with scintillating tennis from both players, having faced five break points.

Djokovic’s final break point of the set doubled as a set point at 6-5, 30/40. Although he could not convert, the Serbian retained his composure to reel off four straight points from 3/3 in the tie-break and move ahead after a brutal 94 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

NOVAK IS ONE SET AWAY FROM OLYMPIC GOLD ?@DjokerNole | #Olympics | #Paris2024 | #tennis pic.twitter.com/GNciD17FHY

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 4, 2024

Djokovic is competing in his first Olympic gold-medal match just eight and a half weeks after undergoing meniscus surgery on his right leg. He fell to Alcaraz in the final at Wimbledon in his only other tournament since the operation, but is now on the brink of becoming just the fifth player — after Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams — to complete the ‘Golden Slam’ of winning all four major titles and an Olympic gold medal in singles.

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From MP saves to final: Korda, Cobolli set Washington title match

After saving a combined seven match points earlier this week at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Sebastian Korda and Flavio Cobolli advanced to the final at the Washington ATP 500. After rain delayed the start of both Saturday evening semi-finals, Korda knocked off Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-4 on the stadium court and Cobolli beat Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on the grandstand.

Korda, who saved two match points against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the third round, is bidding to match father Petr Korda (1992) by winning the Washington title. He will play for his second tour-level crown in his seventh final.

[ATP APP]

In an all-American semi-final, he fired 12 aces and saved the lone break point against him, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He hit 25 winners and made just five unforced errors in a clean performance against local favourite Tiafoe.

"It was pretty good today. Frances plays some of his best tennis here. I just tried to take care of my side of the court," said Korda. "I think I played really well today and I served really well, so that was probably the key for today."

Final loading... ⏳

Who is taking the title in Washington? ?@mubadalacitidc | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/g2OFFnOXCf

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Matos/Melo advance to Washington doubles final

Brazilians Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo advanced to the Mubadala Citi DC Open final with a 7-6(1), 6-4 victory against Sadio Doumbia and Hugo Nys on Saturday. The eighth seeds are seeking their second tour-level title as a duo in 2024, after winning Stuttgart in June.

[ATP APP]

Matos/Melo have won all three of their matches in straight sets this week at the ATP 500, with one tie-break win in each match. In the semi-final, they claimed 84 per cent (16 of 19) of their second-serve points and were broken just once on one break point, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow await in Sunday's final. The American sixth seeds advanced past Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson after Purcell was forced to withdraw due to fatigue.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Dimitrov, Tsitsipas & Fritz can score big in Montreal: Predictor Picks

The stars of the ATP Tour have a big opportunity to earn PIF ATP Rankings points this week at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Montreal, where Jannik Sinner is the defending champion.

The champion will leave Canada with a whopping 1,000 points. If the winner suffered an early exit in 2023, that will earn players of the PIF ATP Rankings Predictor a huge sum of net points.

Who will you select this week? ATPTour.com looks at stars to watch for this week in Montreal.

Make Your Picks Now!

Grigor Dimitrov - defending 0 points
When a player the calibre of Dimitrov enters such a big event without any points to defend, there is huge room for scoring by PIF ATP Rankings Predictor players

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Updated Schedule for rain-hit Washington ATP 500

Update: Shelton and Cobolli began playing at 9.45 p.m.

Editor's Note: The tournament has released an updated schedule for tonight: The Shelton v Cobolli match has been moved to John Harris court, starting not before 9 p.m. Tiafoe and Korda are scheduled not before 9 p.m. on Stadium following the WTA semi.

Saturday night's men's singles semi-finals at the Mubadala Citi DC Open have been delayed by rain and lightning. 

Ben Shelton and 22-year-old Italian Flavio Cobolli are scheduled to open the evening session, followed by an all-American matchup between local hero Frances Tiafoe and Sebastian Korda. It marks the first time since 2001 that three American men have advanced to the Washington semis.

Shelton, Tiafoe and Korda are hoping to snap a 17-year wait for a home champion by becoming the first American to win the D.C. title since Andy Roddick in 2007. Cobolli, who competed in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF last November, is seeking his first tour-level final.

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Sinner says he is 'ready for every challenge', faces tricky Montreal draw

Top seed Jannik Sinner faces a tricky draw at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers, the ATP Masters 1000 event he won last year in Toronto. This year the tournament, at which main draw action begins Tuesday, is in Montreal.

The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will play Spaniard Pedro Martinez or a qualifier in the first round. But looming in the third round is 15th seed Alejandro Tabilo, the Chilean who lived in Canada. The lefty begins his event against American Frances Tiafoe.

Also in Sinner’s quarter is fifth seed Andrey Rublev. Former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev is in his half of the draw. When Sinner triumphed in Canada one year ago, he was World No. 8 and had not yet won a Masters 1000 title. Despite rocketing to the very top of men’s tennis, the Italian said that not much has changed.

“It’s just a different number. Me and my team, we try to make the process, our daily routine, to make everything in the best possible way and just try to be ready for every challenge that comes up,” Sinner said at the draw ceremony. “I’m very happy to come back here. It started off from last year semis of Wimbledon and then I came here for the first Masters event I won. I’ve been very consistent throughout one year and that’s at least what we will try to do in the next months also.”

This will be the top seed’s second appearance in Montreal. Two years ago, he lost in the third round to eventual champion Pablo Carreno Busta.

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Musetti ends Italy's 100-year wait, defeats Auger-Aliassime in Paris battle for bronze

Lorenzo Musetti maintained his excellent form on Saturday with a hard-earned victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the bronze-medal match at the Paris Olympics.

The 22-year-old Italian regained his composure after a mid-match lapse to seal a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 triumph in the bronze-medal clash on Court Philippe Chatrier. Musetti clinched a decisive break in the eighth game of the deciding set to prevail in a match of fine margins and become the first Italian tennis player to win an Olympic medal since Uberto de Morpugo at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

BRONZE MEDAL FOR ITALY ??@Lorenzo1Musetti defeats Auger-Aliassime 6-4 1-6 6-3 to win the Men's Singles Bronze Medal!#Paris2024 | #tennis | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/dNDKxdhomx

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 3, 2024

Musetti was less clinical than Auger-Aliassime with his chances — the Italian converted three of 12 break points he earned, while the Canadian won three of four — but he stayed mentally composed to pull clear in the final stages of the match. With his two-hour, 17-minute win, he levelled his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Auger-Aliassime at 3-3.

The two-time ATP Tour champion Musetti defeated home favourite Gael Monfils, Mariano Navone, Taylor Fritz and defending Olympic champion Alexander Zverev in Paris, before falling to top seed Novak Djokovic in the last four and entering the bronze-medal match against Auger-Aliassime.

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