Musetti Falls Again To Jodar: Montreal Ends In The Third Round

Lorenzo Musetti lost 6-4, 6-3 to Rafael Jodar in the third round of the Montreal Masters 1000, an hour and thirty-five minutes in which the Italian never found his rhythm. It's his second loss in less than a week against the Spaniard, after the quarterfinal defeat in Washington on July 31 (1-6, 6-1, 6-4).

The numbers tell the story: 34 unforced errors against 11 winners. Musetti showed his usual backhand accelerations and a few sharp drop shots, but without consistency, while Jodar, the nineteen-year-old who entered the top 15 after losing the final to Fritz in Washington, simply waited without missing.

Speaking to Ubitennis, Musetti was direct on the point: "I still lack consistency: too many blank patches, and against an opponent as solid as Jodar was tonight, you pay a heavy price." On the missed chances: "These chances, these trains I didn't catch, sum up a bit of everything; I feel like I often live through the same feelings." The Tuscan also recalled the context of his comeback: "In this last stretch I haven't played many matches or many important moments."

The reference is to the two and a half months out with the injury that made him miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon. His comeback began in Washington and continues in Canada without his level having stabilized.

Now there's also the ranking to consider. Musetti stays thirteenth in the virtual standings with 2,415 points, but the early exit leaves him open to being overtaken: Ruud, Jodar, Tien and Paul would only need the quarterfinals in Montreal to pass him, while Darderi and Fils would need the semifinal. Next stop Cincinnati, with the US Open at the end of the month.