Djokovic too Face Musetti in Athens Final, Pursues Record-Breaking title
Athens, Greece – Novak Djokovic will compete for the ATP 250 title in Athens on Saturday, after a hard-fought victory that sets him within reach of another milestone in his decorated career.He will face Lorenzo Musetti, who overcame a challenging semi-final match against sebastian Korda to secure his place in the final.
Musetti secured his spot after defeating Korda 6-0, 5-7, 7-5 in a 2-hour and 19-minute battle. The Italian faced a match point on his own serve at 5-4 in the deciding set, but saved it with an ace and ultimately broke Korda to close out the match.
“I was a break behind in the second set but I kept my composure, I didn’t allow myself to be too hard on myself. And it worked well!” Musetti said after the match.
A win for Musetti would propel him into the eighth and final qualifying spot for the Turin Masters, scheduled for November 9-16. He would overtake Félix Auger-Aliassime in the rankings.
Djokovic, currently ranked 9th in the world, is seeking his 101st career title. He lost the Miami Masters 1000 final in March to Jakub Mensik (19th) and won the ATP 250 title in Geneva in May against Hubert Hurkacz (formerly 6th, currently 78th). Should he win on Saturday, he will be two titles behind Roger Federer’s 103 and eight behind jimmy Connors’ record of 109.
Djokovic has historically dominated Musetti, winning eight of their nine previous encounters. The final promises a compelling clash as Musetti aims to defy those odds and secure both the athens title and a place in the prestigious Turin Masters.