“The idea is clearly to try and close the gap between me and Alcaraz and Sinner” : Lorenzo Musetti sets clear target for 2026 season
Lorenzo Musetti was among the most consistent players on the tour last season. His impressive results over the course of the year helped him break into the top 10 rankings in the world. However, the Italian has set his sights clear on the 2026 season, and looks to bridge the gap between himself and Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Both, Alcaraz and Sinner have been the protagonists of men’s tennis, winning four Slams each in the last two seasons. Lorenzo Musetti has faced Carlos Alcaraz on eight occasions, losing seven times. The Italian stated that every time he felt he had an opportunity defeating the Spaniard, he was plagued by injuries.
Meanwhile, Musetti also faced his countryman Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals of the 2025 US Open, where he was defeated in straight sets. Hence, his main objective this season is to bridge the gap between him and the top two. All top-ranked ATP players will look to cause an upset or two, and break Sinner-Alcaraz’s dominant streak in 2026.
“As for my goals, the idea is clearly to try and close the gap between me and Alcaraz and Sinner. I’ve played Carlos several times, while I’ve only faced Jannik once, in New York, where I didn’t manage to show my best. Against Carlos, however, I felt good, especially on clay, like in Monte Carlo and Roland Garros, where I was even a set ahead. But every time I’ve tried to reach his level, I’ve had a few injuries that have prevented me from getting where I wanted to be,” said Musetti.
Lorenzo Musetti also added that he has roped in a new coach, who will help him in terms of his physical conditioning. The Italian has struggled with injuries midway through matches, which has forced him to retire early. Musetti also acknowledges that working on this aspect of his game is as critical as the rest.
“To close that gap, I need to work a lot on my physical conditioning, and fortunately, I’m already making progress. I also have a new coach, Jose, who will certainly give me some useful advice,” Musetti added.
