Barcelona
\n Musetti wins highlight-reel outing with Moutet for Barcelona QF spot<\/p>\n
Rublev jointly breaks ATP 500 record with Zverev by reaching last eight<\/p>\n
April 16, 2026<\/p>\n
Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell | Trofeo Conde de God\u00f3<\/p>\n
Lorenzo Musetti in action against Corentin Moutet on Thursday in Barcelona.
\n By Andy West<\/p>\n
Lorenzo Musetti<\/a> kept his cool in the face of a typically crafty Corentin Moutet<\/a> performance on Thursday afternoon to seal a quarter-final berth at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell<\/a>. <\/p>\n The No. 9 player in the PIF ATP Rankings prevailed 6-3, 6-4 in a richly entertaining encounter on Pista Rafa Nadal. Moutet, who was competing despite being reluctant to strike a topspin backhand due to a wrist injury, nonetheless deployed his slice to great effect to keep Musetti on his toes. However, it was not enough to deny the Italian victory in a highlight-filled one-hour, 41-minute encounter. <\/p>\n Musetti secured a crucial break of serve for 5-4 in the second set by winning a point that was reflective of the match as a whole. Moutet stayed alive with some breathtaking defence, including a perfectly measured lob that clipped the baseline, before Musetti regained control and finished with an arrow-like cross-court backhand. <\/p>\n WHAT. A. FINISH. \ud83d\ude31@Lorenzo1Musetti<\/a> and Moutet play out another exhilarating point!@bcnopenbs<\/a> | #BCNOpenBS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yIFNmGF2kJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) April 16, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cYou know that Corentin is such a tremendous defender,\u201d Musetti said, when asked about the point. \u201cHe has this ability with his hands, with his touch, and he runs so much. It was not easy to find a way to break him. At the end, with a great cross-court backhand, I finished and got the break. I\u2019m super happy with the patience and the attitude I put on the court today.\u201d <\/p>\n With his victory, Musetti improved to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Moutet. The Italian is now 9-4 for the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win\/Loss Index, after responding to three consecutive defeats by reaching his second Barcelona quarter-final. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was not easy because today was pretty windy,\u201d Musetti said. \u201cIt was not always in one direction, so it was not easy to adapt and deal with the conditions. In a way, I think I managed to stay there and tried to play each point like the last one. At the end, I brought home the win and that is the most important thing.\u201d <\/p>\n Awaiting the 24-year-old Musetti in the last eight in Catalonia will be ninth seed Arthur Fils<\/a> or Brandon Nakashima<\/a>, who contest the final match of Thursday\u2019s schedule. <\/p>\n Earlier, fifth seed Andrey Rublev<\/a> bounced back promptly from a slow start to ease into a joint-record 33rd ATP 500 quarter-final (Alexander Zverev<\/a> also hit that tally on Thursday with his win against Gabriel Diallo<\/a> in Munich). Rublev slipped to an early 0-2 deficit but then powered to a 6-2, 6-3 triumph against Lorenzo Sonego<\/a>. The 17-time ATP Tour champion Rublev will take on Tomas Machac<\/a> for a semi-final spot. <\/p>\n You May Also Like: Rublev, Zverev break clear of Nadal, Cilic & co. with ATP 500 record<\/a><\/p>\n