Sardinia 2020: Lorenzo Musetti vs Laslo Djere preview, head-to-head & prediction | Forte Village Sardegna Open
Match details
Fixture: Lorenzo Musetti vs Laslo Djere
Date: 17 October 2020
Tournament: Forte Village Sardegna Open 2020
Round: Semifinals
Venue: Sardinia, Italy
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Red clay
Prize money: Approx. €271,345
Match timing: 11 am CEST, 2.30 pm IST
Live Telecast: USA - ESPN / Tennis Channel
Lorenzo Musetti vs Laslo Djere preview
Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti has been on a magical run at the Forte Village Sardegna Open this week. He is now through to his first ever ATP level semifinal, making him the first player born in 2002 or later to achieve this feat.
Musetti has been on a tear since the resumption of the tour, winning 21 of his last 26 matches. The 18-year-old has been a player to watch for a while now - he is a former junior World No. 1 and also the winner of the 2019 Australian Open boys' singles title.
His opponent in the semifinals will be 25-year-old Serbian Laslo Djere, ranked No. 74 in the world but a former World No. 27.
The Serb has had mixed results coming into this week. He lost in the first round of both the US Open and the French Open, but reached the semifinals of the ATP Kitzbuhel event as a qualifier. He also reached the quarterfinals of the recently concluded ATP Challenger in Parma, Italy.
Lorenzo Musetti vs Laslo Djere head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between Lorenzo Musetti and Laslo Djere on the ATP Tour, and thus their head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Lorenzo Musetti vs Laslo Djere prediction
Lorenzo Musetti's run this week has included three wins, all of which have come in straight sets. On Friday, he came from 0-4 down in the second set to defeat the experienced German Yannick Hanfmann.
The teenager has played great tennis all through the tournament, and his form over the past few months shows that he is ready to compete regularly on the senior tour.
Laslo Djere has also not dropped a set in three matches this week. He has registered solid wins over India's Sumit Nagal in the first round, the No. 2 seed Dusan Lajovic in the second round, and the experienced Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals.
With fellow Italian teen Jannik Sinner leading the way, Musetti looks set to follow in his footsteps and join him in the top 100 soon. He certainly has an explosive enough game to do so, and would also be expected to triumph on Saturday.
Prediction: Lorenzo Musetti to win in straight sets.