Draper, Musetti, Mensik trying to qualify for first time

Lorenzo Musetti and Jannik Sinner made important moves in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin with deep runs at their home ATP Masters 1000 event, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

Musetti, who made the semi-finals at the Foro Italico, climbed six places to sixth in the Live Race, putting himself in a qualifying position for the season finale, which will be played in Turin from 9-16 November. The 23-year-old is trying to earn his spot at the year-end championships for the first time.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (after Rome)

 Player  Points
 1) Carlos Alcaraz  3,740
 2) Jannik Sinner  2,650
 3) Jack Draper   2,490
 4) Alexander Zverev  2,475
 5) Casper Ruud  2,025
 6) Lorenzo Musetti  1,800
 7) Alex de Minaur  1,785
 8) Jakub Mensik  1,630

Musetti has played the best tennis of his career over the past two months, advancing to his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo and making back-to-back semi-finals in Madrid and Rome to put himself in contention for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Sinner, last year's champion in Turin, was already in good standing entering Rome by winning this year's Australian Open. However, by advancing to the final in his first tournament since, he jumped from fourth to second place. The Italian is now 1,090 points behind first-placed Carlos Alcaraz, the Rome titlist. 

 

Sinner and Musetti are both Italians trying to qualify for the season finale on home soil. The last time two players from the home side played in the Nitto ATP Finals was in 2021, when Matteo Berrettini qualified and later withdrew due to injury, allowing Sinner to enter the field as an alternate.

Three of the top eight players in the Live Race — third-placed Jack Draper, sixth-placed Musetti and eighth-placed Jakub Mensik — have never competed in the year-end championships. Mensik is just 15 points ahead of Francisco Cerundolo, who is also attempting to make his debut.

Novak Djokovic, the seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion, fell three places to 10th after not competing in Rome.