Musetti downs Fritz, marches into maiden major semi-final at Wimbledon

LONDON :Lorenzo Musetti saved some of his best tennis for the end as the Italian moved into his first Grand Slam semi-final by outlasting big-hitting American 13th seed Taylor Fritz 3-6 7-6(5) 6-2 3-6 6-1 at Wimbledon on Wednesday.

The 25th seed's quest to join compatriot and world number one Jannik Sinner as a major champion this year faces a massive hurdle, however, as he faces seven-times All England Club champion Novak Djokovic in the last four.

"I'm really happy about what I've achieved today. Happy about the way I fought until the end," Musetti told reporters.

"I found a way to develop my game set after set. It was really a big reaction from me in the fifth. I probably played my best tennis of the week."

Musetti has beaten Djokovic once in six clashes and dragged the Serb to five sets in their most recent one at Roland Garros.

The 22-year-old showed similar battling qualities against Fritz after going behind early in the match.

After holding in a tight first game, Fritz seized the early break for 3-1 when Musetti netted a backhand, and the American consolidated the advantage in the next game with a powerful forehand winner to set the tone for the first set.

Eastbourne champion Fritz continued to crank up his forehand and serve in glorious sunshine, occasionally drawing gasps from Court One fans with rockets from the baseline, and grabbed the lead in the match with an ace.

After the pair exchanged breaks at the start of the second set, Queen's Club runner-up Musetti pounced again to go 5-3 up, and although Fritz erased the deficit the Italian raised his level to edge the tiebreak.

Musetti mixed up his game with chips and slices and forced Fritz into uncharacteristic errors, easing through the third set on the back of two