Musetti Sparks Final Run with Dramatic Turin Win Over De Minaur
12 November 2025
Musetti’s dramatic comeback seals a pivotal win in Turin
Italian Lorenzo Musetti kept his chances alive at the season-ending finals after a hard-fought victory over Australian Alex de Minaur on Tuesday in Turin, winning 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in a battle that tested every drop of energy and every ounce of nerve.
With a boisterous home crowd behind him, the 23-year-old recovered from a 3-5 deficit in the deciding set, clinching the match with a thunderous winner on the run and moving to 1-1 in the Jimmy Connors group as he celebrated with his team beside the court.
As Musetti celebrated, he explained that physical fatigue and intense competition had made the win a real grind, yet the crowd’s fervor gave him the extra push he needed to find his best form.
Commenting on the turnaround, Musetti spoke about a renewed mental edge and a more aggressive approach from the back of the court, using heavy groundstrokes to disrupt De Minaur’s rhythm and inject life into pivotal moments.
He admitted the match had swung on a lengthy, 31-shot exchange around 4-3 in the final set, leaving both players exhausted before Musetti’s late surge. The late attack carried him to victory after two hours and 47 minutes, a win he will remember as one of the season’s biggest.
What’s next for Musetti and the path to the semis
The 23-year-old Italian now faces top seed Carlos Alcaraz in his third match on Thursday. Alcaraz, aiming to lift the year-end title for the first time, is 2-0 this week after beating De Minaur and Fritz, and all four players remain in contention for the semifinals.
Musetti said he remains a fighter, noting mental growth and a willingness to push himself against the game’s best, promising to enjoy the challenge and fight as he did today.
Head-to-head and season highlights show Musetti having won three consecutive matches against De Minaur, with his Masters 1000 runs in Monte Carlo and Madrid fueling his breakout year. This win marks his first victory over a top-10 opponent on hard courts in 2025, contributing to a standout season that has seen him post a 45-21 record.
De Minaur’s frustration was evident in the post-match press conference. The 26-year-old admitted he must win more decisive matches to advance this season and recounted his 0-5 record against Musetti across this event, plus losses in other tight encounters such as Monte Carlo and Beijing, underscoring the volatility of big moments this year.
Asked about the road ahead, De Minaur stressed the need to solve these close-match problems quickly or risk being overwhelmed by pressure and the level of competition he faces on this tour.
Punchline: Musetti’s comeback was so theatrical that even the popcorn in the stands stood up to applaud.
Punchline 2: If this keeps up, Turin might need to rename the finals the “Final-Set Chronicles” and stream it on prime time.
