Good debut for Lorenzo Sonego in the Sardinia Open, Challenger 175 which is played at the Tennis Club of Cagliari, against the 19 year old Alex Michelsen, one of the latest products of the USA school. A not bad talent who gave the Sardinian public quite a scare when, after losing the first set 6-3, he took over the reins of the match, dominating the second set and then immediately escaping with a 3-0 lead in the third. But precisely in the most complicated moment, the power of the spectators emerged, capable of awakening Sonego with the sound of chants and accompanying him in the winning comeback against a Michelsen who was gradually more and more confused. The Californian returned to show signs of life only when he found himself forced to face (saving them) two match points and then a third, but the fourth was the good one for the 6-3 2-6 6-3 which he achieved shoot the party, for Sonego and for the people who are protagonists with him. “The push from the public – said the Turin native – was decisive. Maybe in other situations I wouldn’t have found the strength to overturn a match like this, but thanks to the full stands I managed to gather the energy I needed to win. I like these conditions: the Central is quite slow, especially when the sun goes down, and thus my fighting skills are enhanced. In the third set I was good at starting to serve well again and making my opponent move: I’m happy with my ability to react.”
THE OTHERS
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Two Italians on Centrale raised the white flag due to physical problems: first it was the turn of Giulio Zeppieri, who threw in the towel due to a hip problem when the score of the match against Marton Fucsovics read 7-5 4-0 for the Hungarian; while later it was Fabio Fognini who surrendered to his problems (and regrets). Because in the first set of the match against Coria the Ligurian managed to lead 5-3 and serve, showing his usual enchanting tennis, but he was unable to close the set and then immediately took the initiative of his rival, who took it back and passed in the tie-break. Then, one game after requesting the intervention of the physiotherapist at 1-2 in the second set, the Italian raised the white flag due to a problem in his left calf. On Court 12, whose program started late due to the rain that fell during the night, Pisa’s Francesco Maestrelli (wild card) left the stage and was beaten 6-3 7-5 by the Portuguese Nuno Borges. In the other matches, worth mentioning is the beautiful victory of the Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochuzuki, who eliminated the German Daniel Altmaier, and that of Daniel Elahi Galan, semi-finalist in Sardinia twelve months ago. The Colombian came within two points of defeat against Radu Albot, then recovered to win 2-6 7-6 6-4. Juan Manuel Cerundolo is also ahead among the qualifiers: the Argentinian member of Tc Cagliari defeated the Canadian Diallo. In the second round on Thursday, for Sonego there will be another American, Emilio Nava.
there is musetti
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By beating Michelsen, Sonego became the third Italian in the second round of the Sardinia Open, after Darderi and Musetti. They will all be on the pitch at the Centrale on Thursday, one after the other from 12. To close the program, however, the match between the number one seed Frances Tiafoe and the Argentine Federico Coria.
