Musetti fights back to reach first major quarter-final
Written by I Dig SportsLorenzo Musetti reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final by surging past lucky loser Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at Wimbledon.
The Italian 25th seed struggled against the big-serving Frenchman in the first set before adapting his approach to win 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2.
It ends a remarkable run for 21-year-old Mpetshi Perricard, who was attempting to become the first lucky loser, man or woman, to reach the singles quarter-finals of a Grand Slam.
"It is a really phenomenal day for me," an emotional Musetti said in his on-court interview.
He will next face either French Open finalist and fourth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany or American 13th seed Taylor Fritz.
Playing on his 21st birthday, Mpetshi Perricard entertained the court two crowd in the early stages with trick shots and huge serves.
He lost in the final round of qualifying before being handed a reprieve after withdrawals from the main draw, and then made eye-catching progress.
Over on Court One, Australian Alex de Minaur booked his spot in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-3 win against France's Arthur Fils.
Ninth seed De Minaur raced through the first set in 30 minutes, and adding the second put him firmly in control.
Fils narrowed the gap before both struggled on serve in a tense fourth set, but De Minaur got over the line to reach the last eight at Wimbledon for the first time.