Olympic tennis: Lorenzo Musetti of Italy beats Felix Auger-Aliassime for the men's singles bronze

PARIS (AP) — Lorenzo Musetti won Italy's first Olympic tennis medal in 100 years on Saturday night, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 for the men's singles bronze.

Asked by an Italian reporter how he planned to celebrate, Musetti said he would eat a pizza.

“I've been eating plain pasta and chicken for three months, basically," he said, "so I think eating a pizza is the least I can do tonight.”

The only other Italian medal in the sport was claimed at the 1924 Games — and it also came in Paris, also was a bronze and also came in men's singles.

The 22-year-old Musetti is currently ranked No. 16 and is having the most successful stretch of his career. He reached his first Grand Slam semifinal three weeks ago at Wimbledon before losing to Novak Djokovic.

“A magnificent moment,” is how Musetti described his recent results.

Musetti also was eliminated by Djokovic in the Olympic semifinals on Friday, when Auger-Aliassime lost to Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic meets Alcaraz on Sunday for the gold medal.

Auger-Aliassime was trying to claim Canada's first singles medal at an Olympics. He still will leave the Paris Games with a medal, though, because he teamed with Gabriela Dabrowski to earn the bronze in mixed doubles on Friday.

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Lorenzo Musetti of Italy returns the ball against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada during men's singles bronze medal tennis match at the Roland Garros stadium, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada returns the ball against Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during men's singles bronze medal tennis match at the Roland Garros stadium, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada returns a forehand shot to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during their men's singles bronze medal match, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Lorenzo Musetti of Italy returns a shot to Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada during their men's singles bronze medal match, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada returns a shot to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during their men's singles bronze medal match, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Lorenzo Musetti of Italy reacts after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada during men's singles bronze medal tennis match at the Roland Garros stadium, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Lorenzo Musetti of Italy returns a shot to Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada during their men's singles bronze medal match, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Penny chose not to testify and defense lawyers rested their case Friday at his trial in the death of an agitated man he choked on a subway train.

Closing arguments are expected after Thanksgiving in the closely watched manslaughter case about the death of Jordan Neely, 30.

The encounter between Penny, a white Marine veteran, and Neely, a homeless Black man with mental health and drug problems, has been drawn into U.S. political divides over race, public safety and cities’ ability to handle mental illness and social ills.

Penny, 26, has pleaded not guilty. Many criminal defendants don't take the stand, and juries are routinely instructed that they cannot hold defendants' silence — a constitutional right — against them.

One of Penny’s lawyers, Thomas Kenniff, noted after court that jurors did hear from Penny, in the form of his recorded statements to police minutes and hours after he put Neely in a chokehold.

“Virtually everything he said then is consistent with credible testimony of his fellow passengers," Kenniff said.

Penny told police that he wrapped his arm around Neely's neck, took him to the floor and “put him out” because he was angrily throwing things and making threatening comments. Penny said on police video that he hadn't wanted to injure Neely but rather to keep him from hurting anyone else.

A number of other passengers testified that they were scared of Neely and relieved that Penny grabbed hold of him.

A man who later stepped in and held down Neely's arms, however, told jurors that he urged Penny to let go but that the veteran kept choking Neely for a time.

Prosecutors say Penny meant to protect people but recklessly used too much force, overlooking Neely's humanity and making no effort to spare his life.

City medical examiners ruled that the chokehold killed Neely. A pathologist hired by Penny's defense disputed that finding.

Daniel Penny leaves the courtroom for a lunch break in New York, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Daniel Penny arrives at the court after break in New York, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)