Lorenzo Musetti says 'I never faced a Nole like this' in praise of Djokovic at Wimbledon

In early June, it was unclear if Novak Djokovic would even be fit to play Wimbledon after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee as a result of an injury suffered at Roland Garros.

Fast-forward to mid-July: He's not only playing, he's thriving. So much so that Lorenzo Musetti, the man whom Djokovic beat in straight sets on Centre Court on Friday to advance to a 10th career final at the All England Club, thinks that the 24-time Grand Slam singles champion is playing better than he's ever seen him.

"As I was saying to his team in the locker room\.

"Today I was really impressed. ... I never face him on grass [before]. I have to say that. I think his tennis really fit very well on this surface. Especially how he returns, it's something like kind of a joke. I have to say today was really a joke at the end how he was returning.

"Of course, also in important points he was playing, especially on the second set, like at the end, I had let's say most chances to break him, but he was serving really well. He deserved to win."

First-time Grand Slam semifinalist Musetti needed to pull out all the stops just to keep pace with the seven-time Wimbledon champion, which he did at moments in the match. The 22-year-old, in fact, ended the match with fewer unforced errors than Djokovic, and the same number of winners—most notably an improbably-angled running backhand that secured him a 3-1 lead in the second set.

"I think the combination of the two games can bring every match a great intensity, a great rallies, great fight from both players," Musetti said, "so that's why they're always nice, let's say, fights."

Asked to comment on Musetti's praise, Djokovic downplayed any superlatives, saying that he felt he played better in his comprehensive fourth-round win over Holger Rune. The level he found was "enough" to come through, he said.

"He's an awkward player to play against because he has that slice, defense slice. His drop shots. He can serve and volley. He's so crafty with his tennis. He has all-around game. He can play any shot. He's so talented. You don't know what to expect in a way. Each shot could be different," Djokovic said of Musetti.

"... I think in the important moments in all three sets, I probably played a little bit better than him, and it was enough."

Regardless of how each player saw things on court, the Italian said that the most important thing that he's taking away from from how the match unfolded is something that's harder to see: self-belief.

"I don't have much to say about my game, because I think I did pretty well almost everything," Musetti said. "I have to say that I go home with a lot of positive things to bring and positive feelings. [It] has been two amazing weeks for me. You know, [it] was really surprising how I could stay at his level today. [I'm] proud of what I've achieved in this tournament.

"In the positive things I think I have to recognize that myself, I can face almost anyone, I have to say, in the tour, that I can win with anyone. Probably before this tournament I didn't have the knowledge to be someone that can beat anybody. I have to say after this tournament, especially in a Slam where the match gets longer. But I think my level can be even more better, I mean, even better in the best of five.

"I have to say that I go home with this thought that I can beat almost everybody."