PARIS — Lorenzo Musetti showcased his stunning one-handed backhand and remarkable agility to glide across the court, securing his inaugural semifinal spot at the French Open and only his second at a Grand Slam by defeating Frances Tiafoe with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 on Tuesday in the very stadium where he clinched a bronze medal during last year’s Olympics.
As the match concluded, the 23-year-old Italian rolled up the right sleeve of his green shirt, flexing his bicep in triumph. Looking ahead to Friday, he faces a formidable challenge against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for a coveted spot in the finals.
In stark contrast, Alcaraz glided through his quarterfinal, securing a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 12 Tommy Paul, who struggled with a heavily taped right thigh and was unable to play at his best.
This year marks a historic achievement for Italian men’s tennis as No. 8 seed Musetti and No. 1 Jannik Sinner (who battles unseeded Alexander Bublik in the quarterfinals on Wednesday) have reached the last eight at Roland-Garros—a feat not seen since 1973.
Tiafoe also contributed to a rare milestone for American men: he and Paul became the first pair of Americans to reach the quarterfinals in Paris since Andre Agassi in 2003, and the first duo since Jim Courier and Pete Sampras in 1996. However, U.S. men continue to struggle with a record of 1-60 against top-10 ranked players at the French Open since 1999.
In the women’s division, three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek alongside No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka both triumphed in straight sets, setting the stage for a thrilling semifinal clash on Thursday.
Despite having navigated the tournament without dropping a set until the quarterfinals, Tiafoe, from Maryland, faced a tough challenge against Musetti, a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2024.
Sporting a necklace with a pendant reading “Big Foe,” Tiafoe struggled from the outset, missing all eight of his first serves in his opening game, leading to an early 2-0 deficit for Musetti. Frustrated by the gusty winds, Tiafoe looked to his coach David Witt for guidance.
“He didn’t start as he wished, but I found it really challenging to play well today,” Musetti shared. “The wind made it difficult to execute properly.”
By the end of the match, Musetti had not only outperformed Tiafoe with a higher number of winners (44-33) but also committed far fewer unforced errors (51-32).
Despite the outcome, Tiafoe found moments of brilliance, notably when he leveled the match at one set apiece with a powerful forehand, punctuating the moment with an enthusiastic, “Let’s go! Let’s go!”
During the match, Musetti received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct after inadvertently kicking a ball that struck a linesperson, a rarity in elite tennis, as Roland-Garros continues to employ human officials amidst the technological advancements of electronic line-calling.
The pivotal moment came in the sixth game of the third set when Musetti executed an impressive stretch to retrieve a seemingly unreachable shot. Tiafoe countered with his own near the baseline, but Musetti, turning his back to the net, flicked a low ball back with a half-swing. Tiafoe, caught off guard, netted an awkward volley, swinging momentum in Musetti’s favor.
As the set concluded, Musetti capitalized on a break with a stunning down-the-line backhand winner. With a triumphant punch into the air, he celebrated the turn of events.
When commended for his elegant playing style in a postmatch interview, Musetti quipped, “Well, we are Italian. Elegance is in our blood.”
With a 13-4 record at the French Open, Musetti’s only losses have come against top-ranked players: twice against Novak Djokovic and once against Alcaraz. This time, he may only meet the world No. 1 if his friend Sinner stands across from him in the finals, with the trophy tantalizingly within reach.
