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It was a good night for Italian tennis as both the Brisbane and Hong Kong tournaments took place. Lorenzo Musetti made his 2025 season debut at the ATP 250 in Hong Kong, facing Gabriel Diallo, the world No. 87, in the round of 16. The 22-year-old from Carrara cruised through the match, winning comfortably in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, on the main court of the Australian city.
Sporting a new short haircut, a departure from his trademark long locks and headband, Musetti impressed on court. His performance was solid, particularly in serving and returning Diallo's first serves. In the first set, Diallo had a chance to take the lead, but Musetti's precise passing shots secured a crucial break. The second set was firmly under Musetti's control, marked by spectacular shots and consistent play from start to finish.
In the quarterfinals, Musetti will face Spain’s Jaume Munar, who defeated fifth seed Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-5. The two players have never met on hard courts, but Munar leads their head-to-head 3-1, with all his victories coming on clay. Musetti’s only win against the Spaniard came on July 6, 2023, on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
Elsewhere in the draw, China’s Shang Juncheng kicked off his season with an impressive win. The 19-year-old, ranked No. 50 in the ATP rankings, dispatched Pedro Martinez with ease, winning 6-3, 6-1. Shang’s performance was efficient and focused, particularly in the first set, where he broke decisively at 4-3. The second set was a one-sided affair, with Martinez struggling to find his rhythm.
The quarterfinal lineup will be complete once top seed Andrey Rublev faces Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, a match eagerly awaited by fans in Hong Kong.
