Musetti and Zverev Make Their Mark in Vienna with Narrow Triumphs
Musetti triumphed over lucky loser Medjedovic, while Zverev narrowly defeated Fearnley
October 21, 2025
e-motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Christian Hofer
Lorenzo Musetti shines as he takes down Hamad Medjedovic in straight sets on Tuesday in Vienna.
By Andy West
Lorenzo Musetti remained unfazed by an unexpected late change of opponent during his first match at the Erste Bank Open. The talented Italian secured a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Hamad Medjedovic, marking a strong start to his ATP 500 campaign.
Initially slated to face fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, Musetti found himself battling Medjedovic instead after the Greek withdrew due to a back injury. The Serbian, a 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals champion, stepped in as a lucky loser but was unable to match Musetti’s poise and precision during their 79-minute encounter.
“There was a late switch, but I think I managed my focus well and executed my game plan when I stepped on the court,” Musetti commented following his debut encounter with Medjedovic. “It wasn’t a spectacular performance, but it was solid, exactly what I needed to remain focused.”
“I had a great attitude today despite some initial nerves. The reaction was fantastic, and we are emphasizing that moving forward, which will ultimately lead to improved tennis,” he added.
With a season record of 39-17 according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Musetti is set to face Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round, following the Argentine’s win over #NextGenATP star Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (6-3, 6-3). Currently ranked eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, Musetti aims for an impressive run in Vienna to enhance his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.
Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev navigated a tense match against British qualifier Jacob Fearnley, emerging victorious with a score of 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5). Fearnley, seeking his first Top 10 win in six attempts, pushed Zverev to the edge in a thrilling final set.
Sascha finding his way through 😮💨 @AlexZverev | @ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/kmwg3cQETv
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 21, 2025
The defining moment of the final set arrived when Zverev faced a match point at 5-4, only for Fearnley to fend it off with brilliant play. However, Zverev maintained his composure throughout the tie-break, clinching victory on his fourth match point.
“The tie-break was incredibly tight, and the entire set was too. He performed remarkably well in crucial moments,” Zverev reflected. With a deep run this week, he could surpass the already-qualified Novak Djokovic for third place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. “I had a match point that he countered with a fantastic serve and a forehand winner.”
“Even though I lost some energy in the second set, the third set was played at a high level, and I’m thrilled to have moved on,” Zverev concluded.
Andrey Rublev’s aspirations for a sixth consecutive visit to the Nitto ATP Finals took a hit as the seventh seed fell to early elimination. Cameron Norrie powered through to a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-2 victory over Rublev, equalizing their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 3-3.
In other matches, home favorite Filip Misolic and Francisco Cerundolo each claimed first-round victories in the Austrian capital. Misolic, granted a wild card, defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5, 7-6(6) and will next challenge third-seed Alex de Minaur. With this win, Misolic has climbed nine places to No. 86 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, positioning him to surpass his career-high of No. 92 in the upcoming rankings.
Cerundolo also advanced, besting Alex Michelsen in straight sets (6-3, 6-1) and will face eighth-seeded Alexander Bublik for a spot in the quarter-finals.
