(PRIMASPORT) LYON – Lorenzo Musetti won the Italian derby against Matteo Arnaldi in the first round of the Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, an ATP 250 tournament played on indoor hard courts in Lyon, a new event that replaced the Marseille tournament. The Tuscan, world number 26 and the sixth seed, won 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 19 minutes of play.
After a first set dominated by Musetti, Arnaldi held his own until the second set was tied at 4-4. The decisive moment came in the ninth game, in which Musetti saved four break points before securing the final break that secured the victory, his sixth in as many head-to-head matches against Arnaldi.
At the end of the match, Musetti commented: “It's never easy playing against a friend. We have a great relationship and have known each other for a long time. I started off really well and had great ball control. I haven't played much this year, and every win matters. I'm really happy with the result and how I handled the last few games. I've had some tough times in the last few months, but I also have a lot more experience, and when I step on the court, I really focus solely on the game plan, with fewer distractions.
In the round of 16, Musetti could face another Italian derby against Lorenzo Sonego, who must defeat promising young Frenchman Moise Kouamé to join the Tuscan in the draw. (PRIMASPORT)
