Musetti fights back to reach Wimbledon quarters

Lorenzo Musetti reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final by surging past lucky loser Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at Wimbledon yesterday.

The Italian 25th seed struggled against the big-serving Frenchman in the first set before adapting his approach to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

It ends a remarkable run for 21-year-old Mpetshi Perricard, who was attempting to become the first lucky loser, man or woman, to reach the singles quarter-finals of a Grand Slam.

“It is a really phenomenal day for me,” an emotional Musetti said in his on-court interview.

He will next face either French Open finalist and fourth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany or American 13th seed Taylor Fritz.

Playing on his 21st birthday, Mpetshi Perricard entertained the court-two crowd in the early stages with trick shots and huge serves.

He lost in the final round of qualifying before being handed a reprieve after withdrawals from the main draw and since then had made eye-catching progress. (Agencies)