'%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,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABhAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAIBBAIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECBAADBhIFESElMTMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYIEQACAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMRAAQhEjH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AMlYtETKcOyOfc4/j/UR44U3A7NtdPQ0HfSqNPlRt+U0dlMWJ4JH4LSlVGkcabGygUeVdKFXVxqcORdeWyeMK784M//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lorenzo Musetti was at the center of online abuse after he lost to Adrian Mannarino of France in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday (March 12).
Musetti, ranked 21 in the world and seeded 19th at Indian Wells, lost 4-6, 4-6 to the Frenchman and was subjected to a lot of insults on social media. The loss is now the Italian's fourth in a row and has only one win from his last seven matches.
The online abuse prompted Musetti to limit comments on his Instagram and said he wanted to clarify why he had to do so. The Italian tennis player said it was unhealthy to receive so many insults after a loss and hinted that the online abuse was also subjected towards his loved ones.
"Hi everyone! Just wanted to clarify about the comments story above my posts here on IG and why I did that! I think it is not healthy and correct to receive after a loss so many free insults and threats over families or person u really love. We are professional tennis players, we love tennis and we live for that (sic)," he wrote on his Instagram story.
Lorenzo Musetti added that like everyone else, tennis players also have ups and downs and work hard every day to get better.
"But we are also people who have feelings and we have ups and downs like everyone has and we work everyday to get better and to do better! I'm sure the real tennis fans can understand my decision for the moment about the comments. And thank again for all the wonderful messages of encouragement. Happy tennis to everyone (sic)," he continued.
Lorenzo Musetti's alternate career option was to become an actor
Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti has revealed that he would have been an actor if he did not become a professional tennis player.
In an interview with German publication Tennis Magazin, Musetti claimed that he loved movies as a child. While he stated that he would have been an actor if he hadn't been a tennis player, he also made a light-hearted remark about how it's probably best that he did not get into acting.
"When I was a child, I loved movies. I like magazines, media and this lifestyle. I also enjoy the time away from the square. If I wasn't a tennis player, I might act. But it's probably better that I play tennis (laughs)," Musetti had said.
Musetti will next be in action at the Miami Open when he commences his quest in the second round.
