Musetti explains what the key was to return to a good level after his injury

Pedro de Pablos | 26 Apr 2026 | 17.08

Musetti explains what was the key to return to a good level after his injury

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Lorenzo Musetti has achieved a great victory at the Madrid Open 2026 against Tallon Griekspoor to secure his spot in the round of 16, where he will face Jiri Lehecka. In a press conference, the Italian tennis player spoke about the improvement in his game since the 2026 Barcelona Open and how he has managed to choose the exact moment to return from his injury.

At the Australian Open, Musetti suffered an abductor injury while leading against Novak Djokovic, and since then, he has faced various setbacks that have prevented him from having the desired continuity. However, Lorenzo showed patience, and once he felt physically good to return, he has started obtaining good results again at a crucial time for him, as he defends a large number of points in the clay court season.

Musetti analyzes the differences between the Madrid Open and other clay court tournaments

Level shown against Griekspoor

I feel good; I played a great match. I started very well. The confidence in my sliced shot is growing, and knowing when to use it. My level is also gradually rising after the injury. I hope to continue improving my game and progressing step by step for the next round.

Adapting to Griekspoor's style

I knew today I had to adapt to his serve and his very aggressive style of play. I did it immediately. I only had two small mistakes in both sets where I had a break advantage and relaxed a bit, and he took them back. He played well there, but I really liked how I reacted promptly. It's very easy to lose focus and concentration in those moments. That's what I liked most about myself today. I knew what I had to do, and from start to finish, I did it.

Patience to return at the right moment

Every injury is different. It's always difficult to stop competing and be out of the circuit for a while. You see others playing, and you want to be there, but you can't do anything about it. Especially in my recovery, I needed time, to know when to choose the right moment. In my case, I tried to be ready for Miami, but I felt I wasn't prepared yet. So, I realized it was better to stop and come back a bit later.

The importance of listening to your body

Your body tells you when to come back. I am surrounded by people who support me every day and are professionals in every aspect of the game. You have to trust your team and the people around you. They know the right timing for recovery.

Middle-level in the circuit

Nowadays, all players are physically prepared and can move very well on any surface. Especially on clay, where there may be people taller than me with long legs. Tennis has evolved, the court is faster, and you have to be quicker and more resilient. The body has to be 100% ready to fight if you want to compete at this level.

Differences of the Madrid Open with other clay court tournaments

The big difference this tournament has compared to others is the altitude, as here we play at 500 to 600 meters. It's not really the clay that changes. Honestly, the conditions suit my game very well. I like it when the ball takes the spin I want with my backhand or serve, and I feel the ball spins a lot here, and the slice works very well too. The most challenging part might be the forehand, which is difficult to control at times.

Similarities among all his rivals in Madrid

If you have the mentality to win the tournament, you have to face anyone, no matter who is on the other side of the court. It's obvious that each player has a game strategy that has to be consulted with the team, studied, and put into action. The fact that Hurkacz, Griekspoor, and Lehecka have been my rivals implies that they are all big servers, but at the same time, they are more specialists on faster courts, although this is a quite particular clay court. I know Lehecka will grant me little on his serve, but at the same time, he will allow more unforced errors compared to a South American player who seeks more rallies.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Musetti explica cuál fue la clave para volver a buen nivel tras su lesión