Top seed Lorenzo Musetti gave Milan home crowds the opening outcome they came for as the Italian defeated Taiwan’s Tsent Chun-Hsin 4-2, 4-2, 4-2 on Tuesday on opening day of the under-21 event played under hybrid rules.
The experimental format includes shortened sets and less time between points; there is also only one sit-down on the bench after the third game of a set.
No. 23 Musetti, winner of the Naples ATP event last month and a quarter-finallst four days ago at the Paris Masters, finished with 17 winners while breaking his Asian opponent four times.
The 20-year-old took full advantage of the live coaching allowed, with his mentor receiving statistical information in real time from tournament boffins.
“I am pretty confident and happy with the win,” Musetti said.
“The shorter times (between points) means you can be rushed, so you need to be patient and look at the times and not rush.”
Tseng is the first Asian player to qualify for the tournament since Hyeon Chung at the inaugural edition five years ago.
