Musetti defeats Sinner and vows to become the third giant; netizens say: win a Grand Slam first before talking.

The announcement of the 2025 Italy Best Athlete award results suddenly turned Musetti into a major subject of public debate!

Before the award was presented, nearly everyone assumed it would go to Sinner, and any unexpected victor would invite unwarranted controversy. It was also expected that the organizers would avoid surprises to spare the unexpected winner from public backlash.

People considered Sinner the clear favorite for this award, especially since Italians won it last year. Plus, this year Sinner holds two Grand Slam titles and a year-end championship, making it almost impossible for others to compete seriously.

However, when the award was finally revealed, the public was stunned! The winner was not the pre-tournament favorite Sinner, but the Italian dad Musetti!

Musetti himself was probably surprised to have beaten Italy’s top tennis player Sinner to win the Athlete of the Year award, never expecting Lady Luck to favor him so strongly this year and grant him this honor.

While Musetti’s face beamed with joy after winning, the public reaction was explosive. Many found it hard to accept that Musetti, who unexpectedly defeated Sinner to claim the 2025 Italy Best Athlete award, deserved it, as his season’s performance was far inferior to Sinner’s.

But in a post-award interview, Musetti clearly disagreed with the criticism, boldly declaring his ambition to become the third star after Sinner and Alcaraz, a statement that shocked many.

“I hope to fill the gap as the third choice between Sinner and Alcaraz.” People say joy lifts the spirit, but when Musetti said this after winning, many reacted by thinking the Italian dad might be overconfident, carried away by his excitement!

Critics say Musetti’s current performance on the court is nowhere near Sinner’s or Alcaraz’s. The two have won countless major titles together, including ten Grand Slams, while Musetti has yet to claim a Masters title or even reach a Grand Slam final, with his best result being a semifinal. It’s hard to believe he could be the third giant after Sinner and Alcaraz.

Musetti obviously knew his statement would stir controversy and quickly explained, “This year, the gap between Yannick, Carlos, and other players is clear. My team recently hired José Perlas as coach to help close that gap.”

What Musetti wanted to convey was clear: you may doubt me, but I know my own ability and firmly believe I can achieve this.

Some say regardless of whether Musetti ultimately succeeds, having such ambition is positive. Previously, players like Nadal hoped for a third contender to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz, as a prolonged two-player dominance isn’t beneficial for tennis development.

However, many believe ambition must be grounded in reality to avoid controversy. If it goes too far, it’s just bragging. They suggest Musetti should win a Grand Slam first before claiming to be the third star after Sinner and Alcaraz. Saying it now “just doesn’t have enough support.”

Looking at Musetti’s 2025 season, although he didn’t win any Grand Slam or Masters titles, his progress is undeniable. For example, reaching the year-end finals and a Masters final for the first time clearly shows significant improvement.

Especially this year, the Italian dad reached at least the semifinals in all four major clay events—Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, and the French Open—demonstrating his belief that he has made huge strides and is closing the gap with Sinner and Alcaraz, which is not just empty talk but a fact.

Actually, Musetti is not the first to claim he wants to be the new third giant in men’s tennis. Shelton, who is highly favored for next year’s Australian Open, has also declared his ambition to stand alongside Sinner and Alcaraz as the third star.

Some joke that Musetti and Shelton should just compete to see who can achieve it, saying, “Let’s wait and see the results. There’s no need to get upset or worked up since it costs nothing.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)