Lorenzo Musetti just can’t catch a break. He landed in Melbourne fresh off a runner-up finish in Hong Kong, where he lost to Alexander Bublik. He arrived nursing some elbow pain, raising concerns ahead of the Australian Open that begins next week. Still, he stayed upbeat and looked ready to test himself at the Opening Week Showdown against World No. 3 Alexander Zverev. But it didn’t quite go his way.

On Tuesday, the two clashed in what felt like an early top-five showdown. Sascha edged a tight first set after a grueling 75 minutes, taking the tiebreak before Lorenzo was forced to retire with a painful left hip issue. The young Italian called a medical timeout and decided not to risk it further, choosing to protect his body before the first major of the 2026 season.

Before things unraveled, Lorenzo Musetti had shown real fight. The 2024 Australian Open finalist broke in the fifth game with a dazzling backhand winner, then saved a set point at 4-5 and broke back to level it at 5-5. Zverev held his nerve with a crisp volley to reach the tiebreak, where the drama kicked up another notch.

The world No. 5 grabbed a mini-break at 4-3 and even earned a set point after Zverev made a forehand error. But the German refused to fold, blasting a smash at 6-6 and an ace for 7-7 before sealing the set 9-7 after another Musetti forehand sailed wide. Moments later, the Italian’s night ended early, his hopes now shifting to recovery before Melbourne Park’s big stage opens next week.

It’s been a tough run for Lorenzo Musetti. The Italian hasn’t lifted a trophy since 2022, the year he triumphed in Hamburg and Naples. Yet, consistency kept him relevant last season. He reached the later stages of several tournaments, including three quarterfinals (one of them at the US Open), along with four semifinals and three finals in Monte Carlo, Chengdu, and Athens. Despite falling short, his season was strong enough to secure him a spot at the ATP Finals. He exited in the group stage but carried that same fire into 2026, determined to start hot.

Despite complaints of elbow pain, Musetti battled through. He edged past Tomás Martín Etcheverry, Coleman Wong, and Andrey Rublev to make another final. Alexander Bublik fought hard in a thrilling showdown, and unfortunately for Lorenzo, the Kazakh came out on top. Soon after, Musetti withdrew from the Australian Open exhibition, sparking concerns about his form heading into the Grand Slam. But he didn’t leave fans hanging.

Lorenzo Musetti addresses fans after withdrawing

Soon after retiring from the match, the 23-year-old didn’t hide from the moment. He spoke directly to fans, apologizing for the sudden decision to stop but assuring them it was necessary. He still held out hope that his run would continue once he recovered.

“I guess today is not my day,” said Lorenzo Musetti. “I’m really sorry, guys. I wish I could continue, but I don’t want to risk too much for the real matches, so I hope you appreciate the set that we played. I enjoyed it so much, thanks again for supporting us throughout the year, not just today.”

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For the tournament, though, it’s another setback. The start is just around the corner, and several notable names are already missing. Jack Draper remains out while recovering from the injury that sidelined him for half of last season, and Qinwen Zheng has also withdrawn. Fans can only hope the list doesn’t grow.

Meanwhile, the show goes on. On Wednesday, the spotlight shifts to the “One Point Slam,” an exhibition at Rod Laver Arena that brings together Carlos Alcaraz, 21 other pros, and 10 amateurs all fighting for the top prize. Musetti might be out for now, but who knows? When the main draw kicks off, he could be back swinging for another deep run. What’s your take on this?