“It’s really hard to play with a friend in Flavio’s role and I know how important and important this match was for him, but of course for me in the same way because I haven’t really played many tournaments,” Musetti said on court. “So for me to be able to get to the finals and get back in shape means a lot to me. I fought to the end. I think that was probably the key to the match. We both probably deserved to win, but luckily no draw. It went my way today, but it could go the other way too.”
Organizers opened the upper stand at the weekend and it was sold out. a rare crowd for the ATP 250. “I wish I spoke better French,” Musetti said. “I want to thank everyone who supported me.”
Musetti’s 10th career final
Musetti, ranked 26th, reached his 10th career final, his second this season after Hong Kong in January and his second indoors since Athens last year. He becomes only the eighth Italian in the Open era to reach 10 finals.
He opened his week with 6-1, 6-4 wins over Matteo Arnaldi and 6-4, 6-4 wins over France’s Moise Kouame. Musetti’s run at Lyon comes after a difficult season. He reached a career-high No. 5 in January, but then missed part of the season with an injury and dropped to No. 26.
Coboli, who was seeded sixth and fifth in the tournament in Turin, defeated Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4 and fifth seed Brandon Nakashima of the United States 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. He was playing in the first indoor semifinal of his career and was looking for his fourth final of the season.
Musetti now leads their head-to-head 2-0 after trailing Coboli 6-3, 6-2, 2-0 at last year’s US Open.
Musetti will face US second seed Taylor Fritz in the final of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Grand Prix on Sunday. He leads their head-to-head 4-3 and won their last meeting 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January.
“He’s feeling confident, I think he’s won every match in straight sets, so he’s definitely in good shape,” Musetti said. “He’s probably one of the biggest serves on the tour, so it won’t be easy to come back tomorrow, but hopefully I can recover well, sleep well. I didn’t have much last night.”
Lyon Grand Prix, quarter finals
F. Kobolli (1) d. B. Nakashima (5): 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
L. Musetti (6) d. L. Van Assche: 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 6-4
St. Paul (4) d. C. Moutet: 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
T. Fritz (2) d. D. Altmayer: 7-6(5), 6-2
Semi-finals
L. Musetti (6) d. F. Kobolli (1): 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
T. Fritz (2) d. T. Paul (4): 6-3, 7-5
