Musetti succumbs to Djokovic but goes to the Finals due to the Serbian champion's withdrawal. Sinner on court Monday with Auger-Aliassime

One suffers for the defeat, one rejoices for the Finals. Lorenzo Musetti lost in Greece to Nole Djokovic and did not have the points to participate in the last tournament of the year, but then came the official confirmation from the Atp of what the Serb had whispered to him at the end of the match, at the moment of the handshake ('I will not be in Turin') and so he re-enters the competition with the other seven who will compete for the Masters title. Moreover, in the round of Carlos Alcaraz, and thus avoided the derbi with Sinner in the opening match. It is the first time in history of two Italians in the Finals.

"I will give everything I've got in Athens" to reach the Finals, Musetti had said after his elimination at the Paris Masters, and so it was, but it was not enough for the Carrarino to win a memorable final with Nole Djokovic: the Serb prevailed in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 after three hours of battle, and conquered yet another record by becoming the oldest player to have won an Atp title. Title number 101 of his career, proving that he is still, at 38, an extraordinary tennis player. Lorenzo is left with many regrets for a third set that slipped through his hands, wasting some crucial opportunities, but also the awareness of having played on equal terms with a phenomenon like the Serb.

The first set saw the best of the Italian's repertoire - plush slice, lightning-fast backhand volleys, excellent serves, extraordinary retrievals on short balls - but then came the usual comeback of the champion who, after losing the first set by a break at 1-all (Musetti then managed to make it 6-4), was able to overturn the result with the talent and energy that we know, and with the support of the crowd. An impressive split volley and another, incredible, diving volley on one of the Italian's magnificent backhand passes gave him a 5-3 lead with service in his favour.

The third set was a match within a match, full of twists and turns, of breaks on both sides, of extreme and spectacular points, of evil lines at the most sensational moments. Lorenzo missed an easy forehand that would have put him ahead 4-3, an empty-goal penalty. And then he lost a serve by committing three double faults, losing the lucidity that had sustained him throughout the match. That lucidity, however, that Djokovic did not lack, at 6-5.

The Serb made no announcement about the Finals during the award ceremony but reportedly told Musetti, while shaking his hand, that he would not participate. Later, the official announcement came (Nole mentioned a shoulder problem) and so the Carrarino is in the eight and will be on the court. The Finals begin on Sunday 9 November, with Alcaraz facing Alex de Minaur and two-time champion Alexander Zverev taking on debutant Ben Shelton in the evening. Jannik Sinner will be on court on Monday at 20:30 against Félix Auger-Aliassime, while Musetti will face Taylor Fritz in the afternoon.