Looking comfortable on the clay court surface, World No. 21 Lorenzo Musetti fended off Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(1), 6-0 after one hour and 30 minutes, advancing to the second round at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the 21-year-old will face compatriot Luca Nardi for the first time on Tour; the 19-year-old beat Monesgasque player Valentin Vacherot 7-5, 7-5, making it through the second round in the Principality.
An inspired battle, showcasing high-quality shot-making by both players, led Musetti to earn the opening set tiebreak, overcoming the Millennium Estoril Open runner-up with brilliance to seal a 7-6(1) win in 68 minutes.
The Italian played aggressively throughout a tight opener against Kecmanovic, winning 77 percent of the first serve points to 67 percent from his adversary.
In addition, he fired 19 winners to only five unforced errors.
Wise on serve, he kept the momentum going, breaking twice at the start of the second set, building a 4-0 advantage before converting his third break of serve in the fifth game to place himself a game away from notching the victory.
The two-time ATP titlist delivered a solid performance to wrap up business, sealing the set 6-0 in just 21 minutes and the match.
Overall, the Carrara-born player won 81 percent of his first serve points and 64 on his second serve.
Moreover, he hit 25 winners (6 aces), committing seven unforced errors to 10 and 17 from his rival, respectively.
Musetti’s best results thus far into the 2023 season came at the Argentina Open, when he reached the quarterfinals, losing to Peruvian player Juan Pablo Varillas.
Following early exits in Rio, Chile, Indian Wells, and Miami, he moved into the last eight at the Grand Prix Hassan II held in Marrakech, Morocco, falling to Frenchman Alexandre Muller.
The prestigious Masters 1000 tournament runs from April 9 to 16 in the Principality of Monaco.