Against All Odds: Musetti Triumphs Over Wawrinka, Eyes Turin Triumph
Italian star advances to Athens quarter-finals; Kecmanovic also shines in three-set duel
November 05, 2025
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Lorenzo Musetti aims to make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals.
By ATP Staff
On a dramatic Wednesday, Lorenzo Musetti found himself on the brink but defied the odds to keep his hopes alive for a first-time appearance in Turin.
The 23-year-old Italian battled past former world No. 3 Stan Wawrinka with a scoreline of 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship. To secure his place in the season finale, the second seed knows he must lift the ATP 250 trophy.
“Everyone can sense what’s at stake for me; it’s not easy to compete with that pressure,” said an elated Musetti in his post-match interview. “Yet, if I want to secure my spot in Turin, I need to win here.”
In an exhilarating match featuring two of the most elegant one-handed backhands, Musetti found himself two points from defeat at 4/5 during the second-set tie-break. But Wawrinka faltered with two unforced errors, handing Musetti a golden opportunity, which he seized with a stunning forehand winner. The decisive set saw Musetti play with remarkable fluidity, constantly pushing the 40-year-old’s physical limits throughout their intense two-hour and 25-minute contest.
“Stan certainly isn’t showing signs of slowing down at his age. I can only hope to be as fit when I reach 40!” Musetti chuckled. “A huge shoutout to Stan for his remarkable performance; he’s always been an inspiration to me. I raised my game, especially in that final set.”
Next up for Musetti is fifth-seeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller, a rematch from their 2023 showdown in Marrakech, where Muller emerged victorious. Remarkably, Muller has survived match points in both of his previous encounters, most recently overcoming Tomas Martin Etcheverry in a nail-biting 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 7-6(3) battle.
Earlier in the day, Miomir Kecmanovic made waves by defeating third seed Luciano Darderi 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, reaching his fourth quarter-final of the year. He holds a 3-1 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with all four matches occurring in 2025. Kecmanovic is on the hunt for his second title of the season after his success in Delray Beach and will next face American Sebastian Korda.
