AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 26, 2026

Lorenzo Musetti

Press Conference

L. MUSETTI/T. Fritz

6-2, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Lorenzo, you now reached at least the quarterfinals at all four majors. How was your experience for your first pro match on Rod Laver Arena?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Well, I think today was a pretty special performance because first match in such a big stage for me. I have great memories from juniors, which I lifted the trophy in the junior. But of course never had the chance to play in the professional in such a beautiful court and with such great atmosphere.

I think today I managed really well. Was a solid performance. I prepared the match pretty well. I've done everything that I needed to do to beat Taylor, who is such a great opponent.

So really happy to be in the quarters for the first time.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Taylor spoke after the match and didn't want to take anything away from you. Felt like you played well. Seemed he was struggling physically. What was your sense of that on the court?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Well, at the beginning I thought, too, because he was serving kind of -- didn't serve really good in the first set, but afterwards he started to serve big and playing like always.

I don't really know. I don't know if he said something about it. But I was really focused on my game, on what I had to do. I was not really looking at him. That was probably something that made the difference between this match and certain match which I was maybe sometimes focusing too much on my opponent.

Q. You said a few times that you're playing more aggressive tennis on hard courts now.

LORENZO MUSETTI: Yeah.

Q. I'm curious, was there anything you needed to get over mentally to play the way you're playing now? For example, a lot of players talk about having to accept that when they play more offensive tennis, they hit more errors.

LORENZO MUSETTI: Well, it was like sort of even a mentality switch, which I think I felt it a lot. Like, for example, last year during US Open was not feeling really well. After Wimbledon I was coming from an injury. I managed to deal with the three first-round losses between Washington and Toronto and Cincinnati.

Then I managed to find a way in New York and try to be more aggressive, starting from the serve. And after that I felt more confident on these kind of surface and these kind of conditions.

So I think the turnaround point was kind of there. But as you said, I think was a little bit of switch also on thinking that I could be more aggressive, not just the technical thing.

Q. You play Novak in the next round. Can you talk through that matchup and what you're expecting from that match?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Well, playing against Novak is always challenging, especially here, which he won many, many, many times. He knew pretty well the condition, all the things possible.

I think it will be a tough match, for sure. Of course, he's feeling good. He never lost a set. He had the chance to rest for a few days. I think at this age, I think he was happy about it, of course, to try to be well-prepared and well-relaxed for this match.

But of course we know each other pretty well because we played a lot. Just won once against him. Hopefully I'll take my revenge, because last time in Athens we were really, really close. I feel like I have another chance now.

Q. What are the two things that you would say are the most difficult when facing Novak?

LORENZO MUSETTI: One for sure, you know, facing his character, his status as a player and as a champion, as it is. The second one of course the way he turn around sometimes from difficult situation, raising his level, never escaping from a match. That's the two things I guess that always Novak does.

Q. You spoke on the court about some of your team members not being here and about you being away from your family. Have you had to bring somebody else in to help you while you're here? Are you doing a lot of video calling with people at home?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Well, is not that easy, because with the jet lag, kind of tough to call and call back. Of course, they're always awake in the night, so that's why I written, Good morning, Italy, because in Italy was pretty early.

No, I have half of my team now here. I think we are doing a great job, because the week before the start of the tournament, a lot of things happened. Unfortunately they weren't that positive.

We founded a way, and that's the most important thing. I think that maybe that help me to be a better version of myself also on the court.

I felt that also today. So I'm really, really proud. I want to continue to honorate [sic] also the team that is at home.

Q. You played in Athens against Novak. What is the lesson from there? What we can expect from you to just change around that moment?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Well, I think, as I said before, it was a really close match. I think I had my chances there, but I was not cynical, I was not cold enough to beat him.

I think the thought that I have and the mentality that I have to put on the court next match against Nole is probably that one, trying to go for winning the match and not playing the match.