It was a challenging day for Italian tennis at the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, with the elimination of top representatives Lorenzo Musetti and Matteo Berrettini. Musetti faced Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff but struggled to find his rhythm against the in-form opponent, ultimately losing 6-4, 6-2.
On another court, Berrettini battled hard but couldn’t overcome Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, falling in a closely contested match, 7-5, 7-6. Their losses were compounded by the withdrawal of Flavio Cobolli, who is working on recovering from a right shoulder injury in hopes of being called up by captain Filippo Volandri for the Davis Cup.
Jannik Sinner also had to withdraw due to a stomach virus, preventing him from playing his scheduled match tomorrow. The world number one’s absence in Paris opens the door for Carlos Alcaraz to potentially claim the title. Another surprise of the day was Andrey Rublev’s elimination, losing to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets, both 7-6, with tiebreak deciders.
Jannik Sinner rewrites Italian tennis history: triumph at the ATP Finals
17 Nov - 22:58 •
2' min
On a brighter note, French players showcased their talent: Arthur Fils defeated Marin Cilic 7-6, 6-4, while Valentin Perricard prevailed over Frances Tiafoe in a hard-fought match, ending 7-6, 6-7, 6-3. The competition is heating up with an evolving lineup and exciting matches ahead. Adding to the disappointment for Italian tennis, Arnaldi also fell to Rune with a double 6-4 loss.
