Monte Carlo, ATP 1000

[stroke]

Yes Lorenzo has a purer game than Stef. They are very similar, Stef is built like some kind of AI ATP player, but Musetti may win a Major before Stef. Truth be told though. with the ATP depth what it is, neither may ever win one.

[stroke]

Demon and Musetti playing a very good match. Both compete so well. Musetti looks prettier off both sides and serving, but not a beauty contest. Demon's court coverage, along with Alcaraz, the best on tour. Demon reminds of David Ferrer, just gives away nothing and plays every point.

[stotty]

The shot maker versus the grinder. Musetti 3-2 up in the third. No cheap points for Minaur on serve — he's served poorly the entire match. Musetti could take it from here if he can find the gumption. He certainly has the better repertoire.

[stotty]

Good win for Musetti. It's never easy to put de Minaur away. He has lovely strokes. I would like to see him be more aggressive off his forehand...like the couple he hit in the tiebreak.

[jimlosaltos]

Alcaraz vs Musetti could make for some very exciting shot making, if not for a close match.

I didn't remember this. Lorenzo has one win off Carlos, and it was on clay. Now, Carlos was ~19 yo then, Hamburg in 2022. But a win's a win.

H2H 3-1 Carlos

Alcaraz Miami 2024 3 and 3
Alcaraz Beijing 2023 2 and 2
Alcaraz Roland Garros 2023 in 3,2,2
Musetti Hamburgh 2022 4, 6-7(6), 4

[stotty]

You'd think Musetti might struggle against Alcaraz. Good though his backhand is, it doesn't hurt anyone too much, and he sits very deep in the court at times. Once de Minaur got in a good deep drive and pinned Musetti back, Musetti often stayed there for the rest of the rally. It's clearly his default court position. That's a problem against Carlos as we all know.

[stroke]

The number one issue with the beautiful Musetti game is his propensity to linger too far behind the baseline to produce those eye pleasing shots. Alcaraz per TennisTV stats has had about 30 or so drop shot winners. Musetti seems to be a real pigeon for this.

[jimlosaltos]

The number one issue with the beautiful Musetti game is his propensity to linger too far behind the baseline to produce those eye pleasing shots. Alcaraz per TennisTV stats has had about 30 or so drop shot winners. Musetti seems to be a real pigeon for this.

As I think we discussed once long ago, Musetti is actually quite good coming forward. Quick, good hands, good approaches off both sides. Can serve bigger than he usually does.

Just defaults to topspin & turf, today's version of nerf & turf.

[stotty]

As I think we discussed once long ago, Musetti is actually quite good coming forward. Quick, good hands, good approaches off both sides. Can serve bigger than he usually does.

Just defaults to topspin & turf, today's version of nerf & turf.

I said as much a few posts back in this thread. Not sure about the serve, though. There is nothing too explosive about it and he seems content just to roll it in. I still think sitting deep is a default position he finds hard to change, and that will prove curtains against Carlos. Doubtless, both he and his team will know that and they will have to come up with a game plan. Not sure he can emulate what Novak does (doubtful) but that's the way to play Carlos, for sure.

[jimlosaltos]

I said as much a few posts back in this thread. Not sure about the serve, though. There is nothing too explosive about it and he seems content just to roll it in. I still think sitting deep is a default position he finds hard to change, and that will prove curtains against Carlos. Doubtless, both he and his team will know that and they will have to come up with a game plan. Not sure he can emulate what Novak does (doubtful) but that's the way to play Carlos, for sure.

Got to watch the third set of his semifinal vs de Minaur last night -- Paul Anacone was noting how big Musetti could serve after a handful of winners in the 130 MPHs.

Also, Anaconda {spell check keeps changing Paul's name to that of a snake annoying) and Jason Goodall were noting how often Musetti was -- wait for it -- hugging the baseline, not giving up the baseline -- while Demon was teeing off. In the third set, de Minaur upped his average forehand to 83 MPH flat bullets, and Musetti held his ground.

New tactics? New coach? Or is he listening to us? One match is a small sample but let's give him credit -- two, top 10 wins in a row.

As for the final, Musetti won the first set off Alcaraz today then pulled up with some unspecified injury, and serve came apart.

[stotty]

Got to watch the third set of his semifinal vs de Minaur last night -- Paul Anacone was noting how big Musetti could serve after a handful of winners in the 130 MPHs.

Also, Anaconda {spell check keeps changing Paul's name to that of a snake annoying) and Jason Goodall were noting how often Musetti was -- wait for it -- hugging the baseline, not giving up the baseline -- while Demon was teeing off. In the third set, de Minaur upped his average forehand to 83 MPH flat bullets, and Musetti held his ground.

New tactics? New coach? Or is he listening to us? One match is a small sample but let's give him credit -- two, top 10 wins in a row.

As for the final, Musetti won the first set off Alcaraz today then pulled up with some unspecified injury, and serve came apart.

He did hug the baseline after his first serve but then was easily pushed back by one deep ball whereupon he stayed well behind the baseline. I am not sure he is the kind of server who can serve in the 130s all afternoon...just injects bigger serves here and there. He makes little attempt to keep the returner guessing, opting mostly just to roll predictable serves in.

I haven't seen enough of him to be sure yet. He's a lovely stroke player but just a little passive. It could just be a clay court thing...be interesting to see him on grass.

[jimlosaltos]

He did hug the baseline after his first serve but then was easily pushed back by one deep ball whereupon he stayed well behind the baseline. I am not sure he is the kind of server who can serve in the 130s all afternoon...just injects bigger serves here and there. He makes little attempt to keep the returner guessing, opting mostly just to roll predictable serves in.

I haven't seen enough of him to be sure yet. He's a lovely stroke player but just a little passive. It could just be a clay court thing...be interesting to see him on grass.

Made Wimbledon semis after beating Fritz in 5? and Gio, two pretty decent servers on grass