Alcaraz finds his fury, dispatches Musetti

Story of the match

Musetti announced his presence early in the tilt, winning a gorgeous sequence in the third game by punching a slick volley into the open court. The Italian’s elevated play would be a recurring theme across the first two sets.

Executing with clarity and his trademark elegance, Musetti warmed to the task and kept his nose ahead of Alcaraz for nearly two hours and two full sets.

After nine straight holds in the opener, the seventh-ranked Italian made hay in the tenth game, breaking for the set as Alcaraz steered a forehand well wide: 6-4.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, struggled to locate the breathtaking tennis that has made him a fan favourite in Paris.

“He just doesn’t have any feel out there today,” opined Jim Courier, who was calling the match for TNT, as Alcaraz dumped a drop shot into the net in the first game of the second set.

“He’s a little jittery, he hasn’t settled down,” added Andre Agassi, also in the booth.

It wasn’t for lack of effort that the Spaniard struggled. Musetti, one of the few players who moves nearly as well as Alcaraz on the clay, seemed to have a riposte for every Alcaraz advance.

Alcaraz snagged two service breaks in set two; Musetti, keen to demonstrate he was in it for the long haul, broke back immediately on both occasions.

Click here to read article