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Berrettini to face Musetti in all-Italian final in Naples

It will be an all-Italian final on home soil at the Napoli Cup on Sunday

ByAssociated Press

Published Oct 22, 2022

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — It will be an all-Italian final on home soil at the Napoli Cup on Sunday.

Second-seeded Matteo Berrettini will face fourth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti - in a first matchup between the two players — after both won their respective semifinals at the outdoor, hardcourt tournament on Saturday.

Berrettini recovered from a set down and a foot injury to beat American Mackenzie McDonald 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.

The Italian struggled at the start and had a medical timeout at 5-2 down in the opener to receive treatment.

Berrettini admitted his team thought he should retire but he rallied and served up 10 aces and struck 30 winners across the second and third sets to advance after 2 hours and 25 minutes.

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"I don't even know how I did it," Berrettini said. "I wasn't feeling very good. I asked for the physio because my foot was hurting. It happened so many times in my career that I had to fight through so many things, not just thinking about the tennis ball.

"I didn't want to retire. My team told me ‘I think you should stop.' But I tried and I found a way."

It was easier for Musetti who took just 89 minutes to beat Miomir Kecmanović 6-3, 6-4.

Naples was awarded a single-year license to host the ATP 250-level tournament.

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