Musetti: “The Tour is difficult for the emotions”
Musetti elaborated: “Navigating the Tour can be emotionally challenging. We exist in a rapidly moving society where life can change in an instant. It’s important not to take anything for granted. The birth of my first child this year was a blessing and remains my greatest achievement to date.”
Whenever possible, Musetti’s family accompanies him on his travels. “My family is with me here. They also came with us to New York. It was the first major flight for the little one.”
“I approach things differently on and off the court as a father”
Lorenzo Musetti
Fatherhood has had a profound impact on Musetti. “Being a father has changed my perspective on how I handle situations, both on and off the tennis court. The patience required as a father is comparable to what is needed on the tennis court.”
Musetti’s primary goal for the 2024 season is the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga (19 to 24 November). “I always give my all in the Davis Cup, and with the talented squad we have, we aim to repeat our victory from last year.”
In the Davis Cup, Musetti will team up with fellow Italian Jannik Sinner. Sinner’s recent doping case has garnered international attention. However, following the determination by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) that Sinner bore “no fault or negligence,” there is no general suspicion cast on Italian tennis players. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years for Sinner, disputing the “no fault or negligence” finding. Despite the ongoing case, Musetti remains focused on his tennis career and the upcoming Davis Cup event.
38 Italian athletes across various sports have tested positive for Clostebol
Prior to the Sinner case coming to light, a report by doping expert Edmund Willison highlighted that between 2019 and 2023, 38 Italian athletes across different sports tested positive for Clostebol, a substance rarely produced by pharmaceutical companies. The report included instances involving two 17-year-old Italian junior tennis players.
Reflecting on the report and the prevalence of Clostebol cases in Italy, Musetti remarked, “While there have been cases within the tennis community, it does not represent the majority. Italian tennis remains committed to transparency and fair play in the fight against doping.”
