As World No.10, you’d be forgiven for expecting a relatively easy first round Grand Slam draw. Unfortunately for Lorenzo Musetti, that is not the case, as he faces the 6ft8in monster-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Struggling For Form
Musetti, Italy’s No.2, is coming into the US Open in relatively uninspiring form. After losing in round one at Wimbledon, the 23-year-old struggled to regain form in the North American hard court swing.
Despite a run to the Cincinnati final in doubles, he has only picked up one victory in singles across the three warm-up tournaments. He was likely hoping for a kind first round match to ease back into some good form, but alas, that is not the case.
He faces Mpetshi Perricard, who narrowly missed out on being a seed. Since breaking into the top 100 just over a year ago, the World No.37 has enjoyed a steady rise up the ranks, catching the attention of tennis fans due to his huge serving.
Serving Superstar
The Frenchman broke the record for the fastest ever serve in Wimbledon history earlier this year, firing an incredible 153mph serve in his first round match against Taylor Fritz. That wasn’t just a one off, either, as on multiple occasions in that match he served in or around the 150mph mark.
While of course he also possesses a huge forehand, his one-handed backhand is certainly a weak point, as is the rest of his baseline game. But, his serve makes him somewhat of a nightmare opponent, and certainly not somebody you want to draw in the first round of a Grand Slam.
Not a Hard Court Specialist
In eight attempts, Musetti has never got past the third round of either of the two hard court Majors. His game is more suited to the other two surfaces, especially clay, as he has reached the semifinal at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros.
For somebody that is far from a hard court specialist, facing a “serve bot” in round one of a Grand Slam is far from ideal. There is definitely potential for Musetti to be the first top 10 player to lose at this years US Open.
Main Photo Credit: Syndication: The Enquirer
