For a good half hour, in terms of the warmth and support of the public, on the Centrale of the Cagliari Tennis Club it seemed like we were witnessing a Davis Cup match between Italy and the United States, in the Sardinia Open format. Representing the “Belpaese” was Lorenzo Sonego, someone who actually won the Salad Bowl (and as a protagonist) last November in Malaga, while 19-year-old Alex Michelsen was on the field for the Stars and Stripes flag, of the latest USA school products. 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.” In the second round on Thursday, for Sonego there will be another American, Emilio Nava. “He is another very strong young man – he said again –, like all the players competing in this tournament. He plays very well on clay, so I expect a difficult match. I will try to recover my energy, to be ready.” 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.
