Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner advanced to the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday, while Daniil Medvedev went on a tirade during his defeat.
World number one Djokovic struggled in the second set before winning 7-5, 6-3 against the 24th-ranked Musetti, who defeated him at the same point a year ago.
“I don’t think I am still at my top level but it was a great test today against a great player, a very talented player,” Djokovic said.
“I am really glad to overcome the challenge and look forward to the next one.”
In the final eight, Djokovic will face Australia’s 11th seed, Alex de Minaur.
The Serbian top seed dropped serve in the first game against Musetti before rallying to level at 4-4 and then winning the set on his opponent’s double fault.
Djokovic broke twice early in the second set, either side of surrendering his own serve, to lead 4-1. Musetti fought back to within a game, but Djokovic broke again for 5-3 before sealing the victory.
Djokovic has recently struggled to regain his best form in Monte Carlo. He has not won the tournament since 2015, when he won the last of his two titles, and has failed to move past the quarterfinals in seven following outings.
Sinner increased his season record of 24-1 after defeating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-2.
The world number two broke at 4-4 to take the first set and went on to win nine of the final eleven games to complete the sweep.
“I broke him quite early and then he broke me back. I knew it was going to be really tough, but I guess I returned really well, especially on second serves. I can be very happy,” said Sinner.
Sinner next faces Holger Rune who defeated the Italian in the semi-finals last year before finishing runner-up to Andrey Rublev.
Rune made the last eight after a three-hour 30-minute 7-6 (11/9), 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) win over Grigor Dimitrov, saving two match points in the 12th game of the deciding set.
“It was a great match,” said Rune. “I thought I played a very good first set, it was very long, one-and-a-half hours. So it was tough physically.”
Like Dimitrov, Rune had earlier completed a rain-delayed third round clash.
“I had a match earlier today which was two sets, so I played five sets today actually, which is pretty brutal,” added the Dane.
Medvedev ripped at the refereeing for the second day in a row after he was defeated 6-3, 7-5 by Karen Khachanov.
Medvedev was given a point penalty to begin the final game for berating chair umpire Carlos Bernardes, and he subsequently got into a furious argument with the tournament supervisor.
The world number four had already been warned for flinging his racket when he double-faulted, losing his service game and leaving Khachanov one game away from victory.
Medvedev, who complained about two line calls in his second-round victory on Wednesday, was upset when a Khachanov forehand was not called out during a rally that resulted in the latter collecting two break points at 5-5.
The arrival of the physio to treat a finger bleed during the subsequent changeover sent Medvedev over the edge, with the Russian shouting “did I ask for the physio!” at the umpire.
‘Open your eyes’
He then demanded of the supervisor “who will take responsibility?” for the decisions.
Television replays appeared to show the shot in question from Khachanov had landed wide of the court.
“It’s second day in a row. Guys, open your eyes. Do something. It’s out,” raged Medvedev.
“The mark is out. They don’t know how to referee anymore. Who will take action?
“Yesterday the ball is out, it’s called in. Who will take action. This ball is out there. Who will take responsibility? It’s not my responsibility to referee the matches.
“It’s this guy in the glasses (the line judge). He doesn’t need glasses because he doesn’t see anything. He should not be a referee.”
Khachanov’s reward is a quarter-final Friday against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who saw off fifth seed Alexander Zverev 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).
De Minaur moved into the last eight with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against fellow Australian Alexei Popyrin.