Just days before the Australian Open main draw begins on January 18, 2026, Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire from his exhibition match against Alexander Zverev during the Opening Week events in Melbourne. The Italian, ranked inside the top 10, had entered the new season with strong momentum but chose caution after feeling discomfort during play.
The match and its turning point
The exhibition, often compared to the atmosphere of the Kooyong Classic, featured high-intensity rallies. Zverev captured the opening set in a tie-break reported as 9-7 after more than an hour of exchanges from the baseline. Shortly afterward, Musetti decided to stop, prioritizing recovery over continuing in a non-ranking event.
Demanding schedule takes its toll
Musettiβs withdrawal followed a taxing start to the year. Only two days earlier, he had contested the final of the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, where he lost to Alexander Bublik after notable wins against players such as Andrey Rublev. The combination of back-to-back matches and travel across time zones appears to have weighed heavily on his preparation. Italian reports suggested the issue may not be directly linked to a previous arm concern, but the decision reflected a clear focus on long-term health.
Zverevβs form heading into Melbourne
Alexander Zverev, currently World No. 3, was left with the unofficial victory. Known for his consistency and powerful game on hard courts, he has been in strong form leading into the Australian Open. His performance in the exhibition reinforced his readiness for the challenges ahead in Melbourne.
Alexander Zverev in 2026
Ranked world no.3, Zverev played his last match on the 5th of January when he overcame world no.25 Tallon Griekspoor 7-5 6-0 in the round robin in Australia (draw).
This season Zverev achieved a composed 1-1 win-loss record.
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) after Vienna. The main draw will start on the 20th of October.
Lorenzo Musetti in 2026
Now ranked no.5 (career-high), Lorenzo played his last encounter on the 11th of January when he was overcome by world no.10 Alexander Bublik 7-6(2) 6-3 in the final in Hong Kong (draw).
During this season the Italian achieved a 3-1 record. Lorenzo Musetti’s latest run in Hong Kong was the best achievement of his season.
Alexander Zverev and Lorenzo Musetti played each other 5 times. Their actual head to head record is 3-2 for Musetti.
