TennisSection previews the 2021 Next Gen ATP Finals as Sebastian Korda takes on Lorenzo Musetti in the Round Robin Stage on Thursday, November 11th, 2021.
Will Sebastian Korda make it three wins on the trot? Or will Lorenzo Musetti embrace the home support and record another dramatic win? It is still feasible that Korda might be eliminated despite his 2-0 record in the group stage. And with Musetti still in with a shout for qualification to the semifinals of the Next Gen ATP Finals, a lot is in store on day three.
Sebastian Korda made it two wins from two after beating Sebastian Baez in straight sets on Wednesday evening. The tall American had scaled a tough hurdle in his first match against Hugo Gaston when he became the second player to come back from two sets down to win a match at the Next Gen ATP Finals. However, he encountered little resistance against the Argentine clay-courter Baez. The first set proved critical in the outcome of this match. Argentina’s Baez had established a 3-1 lead with a break, but was pegged back almost immediately, missing out from serving the set. Korda would take control of the tiebreak and the match from that point on, unfurling his powerful groundstrokes and big serves. He fired seven aces and won 90% (28/31) first-serve points. Next up is Lorenzo Musetti.
Lorenzo Musetti and Hugo Gaston put on a show under the roof. The match lasted two hours and 38 minutes – the longest in Next Gen ATP Finals history. And when Gaston fired the last forehand long, there was an explosion of noise inside the Alllianz Cloud. Italy’s very own was finally off the mark, and the hopes of a second home champion at the event very much alive. Musetti and Gaston traded blows with their wide array of shots and tricks. In the end it was the Italian’s varied serving which proved decisive. Musetti hammered 11 aces and saved both breakpoints in the fifth set, before breaking the Frenchman in the last game. He will now seek a second win over Sebastian Korda in their rivalry.
Sebastian Korda and Lorenzo Musetti have played each other once before this. Musetti won that encounter in three sets on the clay courts of Lyon earlier this season. How Musetti recovers after that brutal five-setter against Gaston could go a long way to determine his fate here. The Italian admitted the match was tough physically and expended a lot of energy chasing dropshots or dashing to the net countless times. There is still a scenario where Korda might lose this match and still qualify, but I don’t expect him to throw in the towel. Korda looked in terrific form against Baez as he unfurled his powerful strokes and played with purpose. I expect more of the same from the American.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Sebastian Korda in 4 Sets.
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