'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Match details
Fixture: (6) Lorenzo Musetti vs Benjamin Bonzi
Tournament: Amex-Istanbul Challenger 2021
Date: 2 January 2021
Round: Second round (Round of 16)
Venue: Istanbul, Turkey
Category: ATP Challenger
Surface: Hardcourt
Prize Money: €132,280
Lorenzo Musetti vs Benjamin Bonzi preview
18-year-old Lorenzo Musetti scored a straight-sets win over 28-year-old Danilo Petrovic in the Istanbul first round to begin his campaign on a good note. The teenager was coming off a first-round exit at the Australian Open qualifying event, but he regrouped well in his first match of the week.
After his incredible rise last year, Musetti has very high expectations on his shoulders now. How he manages them going forward will likely play a key role in his career trajectory.
Musetti's opponent in the second round is the 24-year-old Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, ranked a career-best No. 164 in the world. Bonzi is a former French Open boys' doubles champion, but since turning pro in 2015 he has spent most of his time on the ITF Futures and ATP Challenger circuits.
At the 2017 French Open, Bonzi scored a win over Daniil Medvedev in the first round before losing in the second. He also qualified for the 2018 Wimbledon Championships and the 2020 French Open.
Bonzi lost to Musetti's countryman Jannik Sinner in the second round at Paris last year.
Lorenzo Musetti vs Benjamin Bonzi head-to-head
Lorenzo Musetti and Benjamin Bonzi have never played on the ATP tour, so their current head-to-head stands at 0-0.
The two have met twice on the ATP Challenger circuit though. The Italian won those encounters in straight sets, both of which came in 2019.
Lorenzo Musetti vs Benjamin Bonzi prediction
Like Lorenzo Musetti, Benjamin Bonzi is also coming off a first-round exit at the Australian Open qualifying event in Doha. His first-round opponent in Istanbul, Blaz Rola, retired due to injury while trailing 1-2 in the second set after dropping the first.
Bonzi, who idolizes Roger Federer, has good on-court movement and hits his groundstrokes with decent pace. However, the Frenchman lacks a big weapon that can help him win cheap points and finish points quickly.
Ranked No. 129 in the world, Musetti is considered one of the most exciting upcoming talents on the tour. He also has a wide variety of shots in his arsenal, with a good mix of power and finesse.
The Italian teen is a clear favorite to win this second-round encounter in Istanbul, but Bonzi's court coverage might help him make the match close.
Prediction: Lorenzo Musetti to win in three sets.
