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The Illusionist Lorenzo Musetti defeats The Hot Shot Taylor Fritz to reach milestone Wimbledon semi-final

Lorenzo Musetti – aka The Illusionist – had his magic on full display at Wimbledon on Wednesday, as he defeated Taylor Fritz in a five-set quarter-final on Centre Court to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final, 3-6 7-6(5) 6-2 3-6 6-1.

With his win the 22-year-old Italian becomes the fourth Italian man to ever reach that far at Wimbledon, along with Nicola Pietrangeli (1960), Matteo Berrettini (2021) and Jannik Sinner(2023).

Musetti, who has signed up to make his UTS debut in October at Frankfurt, had never been the third round at Wimbledon prior to this year. But he has made steady improvements to his grass-court game, and was able to take down UTS veteran Fritz in a deciding fifth set to set a semi-final with seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic.

The Hot Shot Fritz was playing in his fourth major quarter-final. The American, who will take part in UTS New York in August, has now reached three major quarter-finals in his last four appearances at the Slams.

Fritz will join Nick “King” KyrgiosAndrey “Rublo” Rublev and Casper “The Ice Man” Ruud at UTS New York, which takes place at the Forest Hills Stadium – the former venue for the US Open – on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd August.

“Really happy on the way I fought until the end. I found a way to develop my game set after set,” Musetti said. “It was really a big reaction from me on the fifth, I probably played my best tennis of this [Wimbledon].”

Musetti will join the previously-announced field in Frankfurt that includes Alex de Minaur, Jan-Lennard Struff,  Dominic ThiemFrances Tiafoe and Frenchman Gael Monfils in the eight-man competition, which will be held in the 5,000-seat Suwag Energie Arena from October 17-20, 2024.

Wimbledon has been a proving ground for UTS talent. De Minaur and Fritz reached their maiden quarter-final at the all-England Club, while Ben Shelton reached the fourth round.

UTS alumni Daniil Medvedev, aka The Chessmaster is into the semi-finals and will face Carlos Alcaraz for a spot in the final.