Lorenzo Musetti had a tense week, but he ultimately achieved his goal of qualifying for the ATP Finals. Despite a setback at the Paris Masters, the 23-year-old’s fate was in his hands at the ATP 250 tournament in Athens. Although he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final, Djokovic’s subsequent withdrawal secured Musetti’s spot at the year-end Finals in Turin.
Expressing his excitement on social media, Musetti called it a dream come true. He had been aiming for his third career title at the Hellenic Championship but settled for second place. Djokovic informed Musetti of his withdrawal after their match, leading to a lighthearted moment between the two players.
Arriving in Turin, Musetti supported Djokovic’s decision to delay his withdrawal announcement. The last-minute change forced the ATP to find a replacement alternate, with Casper Ruud stepping in as the second alternate behind Alexander Bublik. Ruud, who was on vacation, quickly joined the event, ready to fill in if needed.
As alternates, both Bublik and Ruud are set to receive compensation, with potential for increased fees if they are called upon to play.