Lorenzo Musetti entered the ATP 250 event in Athens late, having to chase Felix Auger-Aliassime in the ATP Race to Turin. The Italian arrived in Athens with only one thing on his mind - to lift the trophy and qualify for the ATP Finals.
Musetti defeated three rivals to reach his eighth ATP final. Lorenzo will chase his first ATP trophy in over three years against the greatest player of all time, Novak Djokovic.
If the Italian wins, they can travel together to Turin to join the remaining players in the draw. The 2nd seed faced Sebastian Korda in the semi-final and earned a hard-fought 6-0, 5-7, 7-5 victory in two hours and 20 minutes.
The better-ranked player claimed the opening set with a bagel in 20 minutes. Korda raised his level in the second set and scored a double break to steal the set and force a decider.
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Lorenzo faced a match point in the tenth game of the final set. He saved it and gained a boost that carried him over the top. The Italian claimed 11 points more thanks to the opening set.
He saved three of five break points, including that crucial one, and secured five breaks from seven chances, only two after the first set. Musetti was the only player on the court in the first set.
He lost five points in six games and cracked a backhand down the line winner at 5-0 to wrap up the first part of the duel in style. The Italian grabbed a break in the seventh game of the second set.
The American pulled it back a few minutes later to improve his chances. Korda stepped in on the return at 6-5 and broke his rival at love with a forced error to impose a decided after an hour and 16 minutes.
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They served well in the first nine games and stayed neck and neck. Musetti served to stay in the match at 4-5 and wasted game points before facing a match point that could have crushed his ATP Finals dreams.
The 2nd seed saved it with a powerful serve and survived more deuces to lock the result at 5-5. Lorenzo landed a precise return in the 11th game to clinch a decisive break and move 6-5 in front.
He saved a break point with a service winner in game 12 and seized a match point with another to emerge at the top and remain on the title course.
