Musetti explains the key to his victory over Zverev

We had to wait until the last tournament of the season to clear up the doubts surrounding Lorenzo Musetti's form. His recent victory over Alexander Zverev at the Rolex Paris Masters 2026 has been crucial to understand that the Italian is back on the right track.

And it’s interesting because, although we often place him as a player who finds his best version on clay, he also has semifinals at Wimbledon and a title on indoor hard courts. That's why he's so good, even though injuries don’t always allow him to show it. This week in Paris, he's in great form; it's impossible to deny it after defeating the current world number one. In the post-match interview with Tennis Channel, we heard him reflect on a victory that means a lot to him.

"I think that, in terms of performance, the first set was really very even. It could have gone either way because Sasha was serving very well and, during the rallies, he was also putting a lot of pressure, especially with his forehand," Musetti explained. However, he found a way to change the scenario: "From 5-2 onwards, I played really well. Those were five incredible points, especially the return. It was a bit of instinct and luck, I don’t know, but it definitely was a turning point in the match," he added.

One of the match's highlights came from that forehand return that completely unsettled the German. Musetti explained that he had mentally prepared the response against one of the best servers on the tour. "When you play against a great server, sometimes you need to prepare the return in advance. I tried to cover that area a bit more, and he went exactly there. Luckily, I was in a perfect position to execute that return."

There was also room for another shot that will stay in his personal collection, a spectacular cross-court backhand to go up 5-2. "I have to say that it was probably one of the best shots of my career. The ball was very low, and I managed to find the perfect angle practically with just my wrist," he admitted proudly.

The victory that confirms the return of the best Musetti

Musetti did not want to hide the importance of having beaten Zverev under particularly demanding conditions for his tennis. When comparing this victory to his win over Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo, he was quite clear: "I think today I was more aggressive in seeking the match, and I earned the victory more. Novak didn’t play his best tennis, but today Sasha was playing well, especially in the first set," he compared.

He added a reflection that perfectly summarizes what this result means: "Beating Sasha indoors and in these fast conditions is a huge victory for me. It's somewhat surprising, even for me." The Italian also highlighted his serving performance, an area he has been working on for some time. "I tried to vary a lot. I wasn't necessarily looking for aces, but being precise and placing the serve well. I think that gave me an advantage," he explained.

Now he faces a new challenge against Luca Van Assche, a rival he already knows from their recent encounter in Lyon a couple of weeks ago. "I won't be the favorite tomorrow, that's for sure, but I also got used to not being the favorite in Lyon. It will be a nice challenge; Luca is a friend, a great competitor, and he's playing really well. I know it will be a tough match, but I think I’ve earned the right to be there," he concluded.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Musetti explica la clave de su victoria ante Zverev