Despite the loss, how does Musetti feel after six consecutive runner-up finishes?

Meanwhile, the women’s year-end championships concluded just last night, and the highly anticipated men’s singles year-end finals will begin tonight.

After Djokovic won the Athens tournament, he immediately announced his withdrawal from the year-end finals due to injury, leaving the last two spots uncontested. Aliassime, who withdrew from the next 250-level event after the Paris Masters final, together with Athens runner-up Musetti, secured their places in the year-end championships.

Although Musetti qualified for the year-end finals for the first time, the experience has been tough. He has suffered six consecutive final losses, including three runner-up finishes this year alone. Consider the following:

2024 Queen’s Club 1-6, 6-7 Paul

Last year at Wimbledon, Musetti defeated American top player Fritz in the quarterfinals to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal, surprising many. Fritz had been a regular grass court champion and a consistent Grand Slam quarterfinalist for years, so this breakthrough was significant.

However, the winner was the Italian, who was not favored before the match! Musetti’s breakthrough was foreshadowed by his run to the final in a warm-up event before Wimbledon, where he lost to fellow American Paul.

2024 Umag 6-2, 4-6, 6-7 Cerundolo

After winning a bronze medal at the Olympics that year, Musetti experienced the best form of his career so far. Yet, in the lower-tier Umag tournament, he failed to capitalize and was upset by the lower-ranked Argentine Cerundolo.

2024 Chengdu 6-7, 1-6 Shang Juncheng

At the Chengdu event, facing the hometown favorite Shang Juncheng who was buoyed by local support, Musetti collapsed after losing the first-set tiebreak and eventually lost again in the final.

2025 Monte Carlo 6-3, 1-6, 0-6 Alcaraz

This was Musetti’s first Masters final. Despite facing last year’s French Open champion Alcaraz, the Italian started well but was hampered by a sudden injury that caused his performance to plummet, winning only one game in the last two sets.

2025 Chengdu 3-6, 6-2, 6-7 Taberner (wasted 2 match points)

Again in Chengdu! This was the closest Musetti came to a title during his six runner-up finishes. After holding two championship points, he ultimately watched his opponent claim their first career title. No wonder he couldn’t hide his tears after the match!

2025 Athens 6-4, 3-6, 5-7 Djokovic

Once again, he won the first set but lost the match. Despite a heroic effort, Musetti was defeated by the more experienced Djokovic. It remains uncertain when he will finally claim his first title!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Cheng Qiye)