Musetti Poised to ‘Leave It All on the Court’ in Pursuit of the Rome Title
The Italian star reached the semi-finals of this prestigious tournament last year.
May 06, 2026
Photo by Getty Images
Lorenzo Musetti showcasing his skills in Rome last season.
By Sam Jacot
Italian tennis has surged in recent times, with Jannik Sinner soaring to the top of the PIF ATP Rankings and claiming 28 tour titles. The men’s team has celebrated three consecutive Davis Cup victories, while their female counterparts have triumphed in the last two Billie Jean King Cups.
Ranking at No. 10 globally, Lorenzo Musetti has been instrumental in these Davis Cup achievements. The 24-year-old, who recently peaked at No. 5, has made significant strides, reaching various major semi-finals and finishing as a finalist at last year’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo.
This week, Musetti will spearhead Italy’s efforts alongside Sinner at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, and he is thrilled about the current tennis landscape in Italy.
“Tennis is experiencing an incredible surge in popularity right now, particularly in Europe and Italy,” Musetti shared with ATP Media in his pre-tournament chat. “We owe a lot to Jannik, who’s leading the world rankings and has bagged numerous titles. Along with Jasmine Paolini on the women’s side, we’ve accomplished so much.”
“Winning three Davis Cups back-to-back and two Billie Jean King Cups has energized the younger generation to engage with our sport. Yesterday, the Pietrangeli court was almost full during practice; I can hardly wait to see the scene when the matches begin.”
Musetti hails from Carrara, Tuscany, but relocated to Bordighera on the Italian Riviera at the age of 13 to perfect his craft at Riccardo Piatti’s training facility. He reminisces about his childhood visits to the Foro Italico, watching legends like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic face off at this clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event.
“Rome holds a special place in my heart,” Musetti expressed. “It brings me back to my childhood. It was the first tournament I witnessed live, and I have vivid memories of seeing Rafa, Federer, and Nole compete here. It’s a magical venue that inspires me to push my limits and regain optimal performance.”
Having reached the semi-finals in Rome last year, Musetti is determined to replicate that success this fortnight. As the eighth seed, he holds a 4-3 record on clay this season, according to the Infosys ATP Win Loss/Index but aims to etch his name as the first Italian champion in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
“I feel fully prepared to give it my all,” Musetti stated. “I’ll undoubtedly need all the support and love from the crowd. With that backing, I am confident I can achieve something truly significant and aim to surprise everyone. This year, we are yearning for an Italian champion in Rome, and I hope to make that a reality.”
Musetti will kick off his campaign against either Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or British qualifier Jacob Fearnley.
