For Lorenzo Musetti, the Italian winter has always been a place of quiet rebuilding - a stretch of time when the chatter of the tennis world fades, replaced by the rhythmic thud of tennis balls echoing through indoor courts. This year, though, the offseason carries a different kind of energy. There is urgency, ambition, and above all, a statement of intent. He is not wasting a single day of the offseason. With the 2026 season on the horizon, the 23-year-old Italian has added a major new figure to his coaching time.

A move he hopes will unlock his next big step on the ATP Tour. Musetti finished the 2025 season ranking 8th in the world, tallying a 45-22 match record for the year. Although he failed to win a title this season, Musetti made three tour-level finals, having also suffered near misses in Chengdu and Athens. But his biggest moment of 2025 was achieving his goal of making it to the ATP Finals. Now, the question is: Can Musetti come up with better results in 2026?

Lorenzo Musetti recently took to IG to reveal a significant reinforcement to his team: veteran Spanish coach Jose Perlas. The announcement came with a simple but telling caption, “Let’s start preparing for 2026. Welcome, Jose 💪.” In the photo, Musetti stood alongside his longtime coach Simone Tartarini, Perlas, and fitness trainer Damiano Fiorucci - a quartet that suddenly looked like a blueprint for resurgence.

Perlas arrives with a resume that reads like a roll call of clay-court royalty. His past pupils include former world number one Carlos Moya, French Open champions Albert Costa and Juan Carlos Ferrero, thrilling shot-makers like Guillermo Coria and Fabio Fognini, and the hard-hitting Nicolas Almagro. Most recently, he guided Serbian veteran Dusan Lajovic.

With decades of coaching experience and a tactical mind revered across the ATP Tour, Perlas brings a level of gravitas to Lorenzo Musetti’s camp that signals a strategic shift. For a player whose talent has never been in question - a one-handed backhand artist capable of painting the court with finesse - Musetti’s challenge has always been channeling his artistry into championship consistency. The addition of Perlas suggests he’s ready to take that final step.

Do you know that Jose Perlas was in Fabio Fognini’s coaching team when he had his breakthrough season on the ATP Tour in 2013? Although their partnerships lasted for around 3 years, during an interview with ESPN, Fognini spoke about how highly he rates Perlas as a coach. 

“I think mentally I improved a lot, which made my game much better overall. Jose has helped me a lot, for sure. He’s the best coach of my life, and I really enjoy working with him. I am in a good way, and I would like to stay with him as long as possible,” said Fognini.

As the 2026 season looms, Lorenzo Musetti is crafting his narrative with intention. The new team dynamic feels less like an experiment and more like a declaration: he is preparing for a breakthrough, and he wants the right minds beside him as he chases it. 

What are Lorenzo Musetti’s goals in 2026?

After a year marked by physical struggles and missed opportunities, Lorenzo Musetti is ready to turn the page. The Italian opened up about his ambitions for 2026, revealing that the road back begins not with grand promises, but with rebuilding the body that betrayed him during key stretches of the season.

In an interview, when Musetti was asked about what he wants to improve most next year, he said, “The goal is to try to improve in terms of results and especially in terms of my physical condition. I had some problems that kept me off the court for two months, and that had consequences for the grass season (he had only played one match, his first-round loss at Wimbledon to Nikoloz Basilashvili). That will be the biggest improvement to make. I will have to train and prepare well.”

He further went on to draw Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz into the discussion and added, “I don't yet know how to get closer to the level of Jannik (Sinner) and Carlos (Alcaraz), I will have to figure that out. I think they are both different, both in their tennis qualities and their physical condition. What impresses me most about them is their movement, their recovery, and how they handle rallies. The way they transition from defense to offense is what I want to improve for next year.”

Lorenzo Musetti is rebuilding. He’s refocusing, and as he prepares for the new season with a clearer mind and a stronger body, one thing is certain: he’s not stepping into 2026 to survive it. He’s stepping into it to reclaim it.

His performance in 2025 has caught the eye of his peer, Nick Kyrgios. During a previous IG live, the Aussie star was full of praise for the Italian, and he also regarded him as one of his favorite players to watch out for at the moment. 

“Obviously, Sinner and Alcaraz are already there. Do you know who I have been really surprised with? It’s Musetti. Musetti has been really solid for the last year and a half; he has really impressed me. He is good on hard, clay, grass. He is fun to watch. Musetti is probably one of my favorite players right now to watch aesthetically. He has a beautiful slice. It’s fun to watch the way he crafts; he works for his points. I like watching him a lot,” said Lorenzo Musetti.

Do you think Musetti can climb up the rankings with a few more titles in his bag in 2026? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

Know more