French Open Day 6: The Italians march on as Rublev combusts
Forza was the cry. The Italian procession in Paris continued at a fierce pace with three Italian players progressing today without any dropped sets between them.
Matteo Arnaldi faced sixth seed Andrey Rublev in a rematch of their meeting in Vienna last year. The destructive Russian came out firing once again with his trademark relentless power. Arnaldi however ran every ball down to seal his third top 10 win ever and move up to a career high of 34 in the ATP rankings.
Just 12 months ago, the lesser known Italian, then ranked 106, crashed out in the second round to Denis Shapovalov. Today however, the 22-year-old matched Rublev’s intense firepower and frustrated his opponent by hammering down 47 winners himself.
After being 5-6 down in the first set tiebreak, he won three straight points, deftly flicking over a neat passing shot to take the first set 8-6, rousing up the crowd as Rublev let out an angry roar.
“I was really nervous at the end because I was going to serve for the match for one of the biggest wins of my life. I managed it really well. I was focussed on myself and doing the right thing,” Arnaldi said.
The Russian’s subsequent breakdown was difficult to watch with some visible on-court anger destroying any hope of a comeback.
Despite having beaten two French players in the opening rounds, Arnaldi was an immediate hit with the Parisian crowd. He sets up an enticing fourth round clash with former Roland Garros finalist and ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Rublev, who won his second ATP 1000 in Madrid earlier this month beating Carlos Alcaraz in the process, is the highest seed to fall so far this fortnight.
Several courts over, Elisabetta Cocciaretto had already wrapped up her match against 17th seed Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 6-2.
Starting fast, the World No. 51 took the first four games before Samsonova fought back to send the first set to a tiebreak. The Italian held her nerve to win 7-4 before comfortably clinching the second with a Samsonova double fault sending Cocciaretto through to the last 16.
While the Russian hit 39 unforced errors, Cocciaretto played on the front-foot and took the ball early, preventing Samsonova from getting any foothold in the match. American sensation Coco Gauff awaits the Italian on Sunday.
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner also continued his flawless streak dismantling plucky Russian Pavel Kotov in straight sets.
Kotov has already sent both Cam Norrie and Stan Wawrinka packing and came in hoping to cause an upset. His mother and chief racket re-gripper could only watch on today as Sinner outplayed her son in style.
Just three breaks decided the match with the World No. 2 clinically winning 6-4 6-4 6-4. He upped his level when needed but truly never looked like losing.
He sets up an exciting tie with home favourite and crafty Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
Italian tennis has never been in a better place and have the most players still in the men’s draw. Lorenzo Musetti is yet to play his third round match and faces World No. 1 Novak Djokovic tomorrow evening on Chatrier.
While a tall-order for Musetti who trails 4-1 in their head-to-head, the Italian may take hope from his performance against the Serb in Monte Carlo last year where he won 4-6 7-5 6-4.
