Musetti compares Zverev win to Djokovic's Paris upset

Lorenzo Musetti compared his 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Alexander Zverev at the Paris Masters to his famous win over Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters.

The Italian beat the newly ranked world No. 1 in straight sets to reach the round of 16.

He will now face France's Luca Van Assche in the next round.

After the match, Musetti explained why this victory felt so significant.

He believes his latest performance showed how much his game has improved.

Speaking to Tennis Channel, Musetti said he was very pleased with the way he played against Zverev.

He explained that he wanted to make things happen for himself rather than depend on his opponent to make errors.

"I think that today I took the initiative myself and went out and earned that win," Musetti said.

"In a way, I deserved it more."

He stayed completely positive, trusted his own game based on what he learned through his past performances and fought for every point to secure the win.

Beating Zverev indoors, where the court is fast and the German can use his powerful shots and serve, was a big achievement.

"Beating Sascha indoors, on a fast surface, is a huge performance," Musetti said.

"Honestly, I'm a bit surprised myself."

The result felt different from his 2023 Monte-Carlo win over Djokovic.

Musetti had come back from a set down on the clay courts, a surface that suited his game.

He now believes he has developed the ability to take control in more difficult conditions.

Musetti also spoke about the way he planned his shots.

Rather than trying to hit as many aces as possible, he focused on placing the ball carefully and attacking at the right time.

"I wasn't really looking for aces, but rather to play aggressively and place the ball precisely," he explained.

"The second shot, especially on the forehand, also worked very well today."

Musetti used different directions with his first serve to make Zverev move around the court more and create better chances for his next shot.

His forehand also helped him to put more pressure on the German during rallies.

His earlier win over Djokovic gave him confidence, but this victory on a faster surface showed a new level of adaptability.

Italian tennis legend Paolo Bertolucci had no doubts about Musetti's return to form.

"Perhaps we thought he was already ready for the US Open, but that was not the case," Bertolucci said.

"However, his progress was clear and very encouraging."

"I am not referring only to the quality of his tennis and his level of play, but above all to the position Lorenzo now takes up on court and the confidence he displays."

"These improvements make a difference and give me great faith in his future," the former Italian player added.

Musetti was close to becoming world No. 3 at the start of the year before injuries struck.

He appeared to have a place in the Melbourne semifinals virtually secured after taking a 2-0 lead against Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.

Then came the injury, followed by persistent difficulties in rediscovering his best form, compounded by further physical problems.

After a dream season, the campaign turned into a nightmare.

But the Tuscan is now trying to at least end the year on a positive note.

"The Australian Open should have been the springboard and, without what happened, his season would probably have taken a different direction," Bertolucci said.

"Unfortunately, the injury held him back, interrupting a development process that was already well under way."

"I also see a more confident Musetti in the way he manages rallies."

"In my view, that is the most important aspect," Bertolucci added.

The Paris Masters is an ATP Masters 1000 event, one of the highest-level tournaments on the professional tennis calendar.

It is played on indoor hard courts at the Accor Arena in Paris, France.

The surface is fast, which typically favors big servers and power hitters like Zverev.

Musetti's win over the world No. 1 on this surface signals a shift in his game.

He has long been known for his elegant one-handed backhand and clay-court skills.

But this victory suggests he is becoming more dangerous on faster surfaces as well.

Musetti's next opponent, Luca Van Assche, is a 22-year-old Frenchman ranked No. 47.

Van Assche is playing the first Masters 1000 round of 16 of his career.

He advanced after an impressive straight-sets victory over top-20 player Learner Tien.

The two players met just two weeks ago in the quarterfinals of the Lyon Open.

Musetti won that grueling, 3-hour and 33-minute battle 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 6-4.

That match was also played on indoor hard court.

Musetti enters this match in high confidence after his upset of Zverev.

The match is scheduled for November 5, 2026, at 07:10 PM GMT+06:00.

Fans can watch the match live on the Tennis Channel.