Monte-Carlo Spherical of 16: Berrettini vs. Musetti Set Up All-Italian Conflict as Djokovic Falls
April 9, 2025 – Monte-Carlo, Monaco – The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is heating up with an electrifying spherical of 16 matchup pitting Italian stars Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Musetti in opposition to one another, whereas two-time champion Novak Djokovic has been ousted in a surprising upset. The all-Italian showdown, set for Wednesday, guarantees excessive drama on the clay courts of the Nation Membership, spotlighting two of Italy’s brightest abilities—each figuratively and actually, as their video games come beneath the microscope like X-rays revealing each energy and flaw.
Berrettini, 28, punched his ticket to the spherical of 16 with a seismic 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 upset over high seed Alexander Zverev on Tuesday. The unseeded Roman, using a wave of 17 clay wins in his final 18 matches, clawed again from a set down, breaking Zverev within the seventh sport of the decider and sealing it on his first match level. “I informed myself to be extra aggressive,” Berrettini stated post-match, absorbing roars from a crowd looking forward to an Italian resurgence since Fabio Fognini’s 2019 title right here. His forehand, a weapon that’s regained its sting after damage setbacks, will now face a stern check.
Musetti, the 23-year-old thirteenth seed, joined him with a gritty 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 comeback in opposition to Czech Jiri Lehecka earlier at present. After a dismal first set, the world No. 16 flipped the script, leveraging his one-handed backhand and clay-court guile to outlast Lehecka, who light mentally after shedding the second set. “Pure ardour,” the ATP captioned on X, echoing posts from followers marveling at Musetti’s resilience. His reward: a conflict together with his compatriot, organising a uncommon Italian derby at this stage.
The pinnacle-to-head stands at 1-1—Musetti took their 2022 Naples ultimate, whereas Berrettini struck again in Stuttgart’s 2023 grass semifinal. On Monte-Carlo’s gradual clay, Musetti’s spin-heavy sport and 200,000-token context-like endurance might stretch Berrettini’s power-driven type, although the latter’s serve and forehand would possibly exploit any defensive lapses. X posts buzz with predictions: “Musetti’s selection would possibly edge it,” one consumer famous, whereas one other countered, “Berrettini’s in beast mode—too robust.”
In the meantime, Djokovic’s quest for a a centesimal profession title ended abruptly at present in opposition to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who surprised the third seed 6-2, 6-4 in simply over an hour. The 37-year-old Serb, a champion right here in 2013 and 2015, regarded off-pace after a Miami Open ultimate loss, dropping serve 4 instances to Tabilo’s relentless baseline assault. “Congrats to him—he performed higher,” Djokovic stated tersely, exiting a match the place he’s not reached the semifinals since 2015. Tabilo, ranked thirty second, advances to face Jack Draper subsequent.
With Zverev and Djokovic out, the draw cracks open for the Italians. The Berrettini-Musetti winner might meet defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alex de Minaur within the quarterfinals, carrying Italy’s hopes on clay the place their video games shine like X-rays by the competitors. For now, all eyes are on Wednesday’s “duel 100% italien,” as one X consumer dubbed it—a battle of coronary heart, talent, and nationwide pleasure.
