Musetti says late-season ATP Finals push is a nightmare

Lorenzo Musetti said the late-season scramble for ATP Finals points is taking a physical and mental toll after a win at the European Open, underscoring a broader strain on top players as the indoor hard-court swing accelerates toward Turin. Musetti, World No. 8, described the run toward qualification as "not a dream, but a nightmare" after his second-round victory over Yannick Hanfmann on the way to the quarterfinals in Brussels, adding that he has been "really, really tired" from playing every week since Wimbledon.

With only Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz officially through to the ATP Finals, several high-ranked players remain in contention for the remaining places and have kept busy on the late-season calendar. Musetti’s win kept his hopes alive and set up a marquee quarterfinal against big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a matchup that will test Musetti’s endurance on an indoor court that often rewards power serving. Musetti’s recent run includes career-best Grand Slam results earlier this year and a top-10 debut, milestones he said have come alongside significant improvements in his game.

The European Open produced another storyline as wild-card entrant Raphaël...