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Around the ATP: 3 big headlines from a post-Grand Slam 2020 season

By Brandon Daniels

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Reilly Opelka of the United States serves during his Men's Singles first round match against David Goffin of Belgium on Day One of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Reilly Opelka of the United States serves during his Men's Singles first round match against David Goffin of Belgium on Day One of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 26: Lorenzo Musetti of Italy celebrates in his junior boys singles final against Emilio Nava of the United States during day 13 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 26: Lorenzo Musetti of Italy celebrates in his junior boys singles final against Emilio Nava of the United States during day 13 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Forte Village Sardegna Open

Italians impress in home event; Ramos-Vinolas the only seeded player left in the draw

Italians Marco Cecchinato and Lorenzo Musetti have been this event’s most impressive players so far. Cecchinato needed a three-set comeback win over countryman, Gianluca Mager (5-7, 7-6(7), 6-2), but took his game to the next level on his way to a win over 7th-seeded Tommy Paul, 7-6(1), 6-4. He’ll face 4th-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the quarterfinals.

Musetti, one of the many young stars with a bright future, has put together a solid showing this week, notching his first-ever quarterfinals appearance in an ATP Tour event. He has yet to drop a set through two matches and has notched wins over 8th-seeded Pablo Cuevas (7-6(4) 7-5) and fellow Italian, Andrea Pellegrino (6-2 6-1).

“I knew it was not easy. I went to the court very concentrated, playing each ball as if it were the first,” Musetti said after his win over Cuevas.

Musetti has risen over 100 ranking spots over the last few months. He advanced to the Round of 16 at the Masters 1000 Rome event three weeks ago, taking out Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori in straight sets before falling to Dominik Koepfer in the Round of 16. Musetti followed that up with a Challenger Tour title in Forli after taking out Frances Tiafoe in the Round of 16 and Thiago Monteiro in the finals.

He has risen from Rank 249 to 143 in the past month alone and 214 spots since the beginning of 2020. The potential-filled 18-year-old will face Yannik Hanfmann (who took out 3rd-seeded Casper Ruud in Round 2) in the quarterfinals for a spot in his first-ever ATP Tour semifinals.

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