"Biggest victory; nothing compares against his birth" - Lorenzo Musetti on support of son Ludovico & GF Veronica Confalonieri at Miami Open
Lorenzo Musetti entered the fourth round of the Miami Open 2024 by defeating 16th seed Ben Shelton on Monday, March 25.
This was Musetti's second win over Shelton in as many meetings. He secured the opening set with a solitary break of the American's serve in the fifth game, roughly 40 minutes after the match began.
The following set saw the two players exchange one break before going into a tiebreaker. Musetti eventually edged Shelton with two mini-breaks against the latter's one to close the match 6-4, 7-6(5) in his favor.
After the win, Musetti credited his girlfriend Veronica Confalonieri for her unconditional support, especially after giving birth to their son Ludovico on March 15. He also termed the birth of Ludovico his "biggest victory" to date.
"That was my biggest victory, nothing compares against the birth of [son] Ludovico. I just want to say thanks to my girlfriend Veronica who helped me in the process of coming here and doing my job at the best, in the most professional way that I could," Lorenzo Musetti said during his on-court interview.
The Italian further suggested that he planned on sending virtual hugs to Confalonieri and Ludovico.
"I'm really happy for myself and for them and I really want to call them and have some hugs from the distance," the Italian added.
Musetti and Confalonieri have been seeing each other since 2022.
Lorenzo Musetti to face Carlos Alcaraz in Miami Open 4R
Lorenzo Musetti has his task cut out for Tuesday, March 26, as he is scheduled to take on World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round of the Miami Open 2024.
Alcaraz is no new challenge for Musetti. The Italian has faced Alcaraz thrice thus far and finds himself trailing 1-2 in their head-to-head account.
Musetti bettered the Spaniard 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 the first time they met on the court, to win the 2022 Hamburg European Open. Since then, however, Alcaraz has dominated the rivalry.
The Spaniard trounced Musetti 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the pre-quarterfinals of the French Open in 2023. He defeated him 6-2, 6-2 a few months later, at the same stage, during the China Open.
Lorenzo Musetti has yet to drop a set at Miami Gardens this year; he overcame Roman Safiullin 7-5, 6-1 in the second round after getting a bye in the first. Likewise, Carlos Alcaraz's previous victories in Miami against Roberto Carballes Baena and Gael Monfils have come in straight sets.