Surprises at the Sardinia Open, Challenger 175 which is being played at the Cagliari Tennis Club. The elimination first of Lorenzo Sonego and then of the number one on the scoreboard, Frances Tiafoe, came quite unexpectedly. Or almost, thinking about the Italian, who already took a risk against Alex Michelsen on Wednesday. The Turin native bowed to another American, the young Emilio Nava born in 2001, a Californian of Mexican parents who prevailed 7-6 6-4 at the end of a spectacular performance. With the first serve constantly above 220 km/h and all-court tennis, Nava exposed the current difficulties of Sonego, who fought for every ball, but this time the warmth of the Cagliari public was not enough, condemning him to elimination that puts an end to his unbeaten streak on the clay of Monte Urpinu, where he won an ATP title in 2021.
TIAFOE OUT
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Frances Tiafoe, the last to make his debut at the Sardinia Open, was very disappointing. with the American sent home by the solidity of the Argentine Federico Coria, who picked up on his many errors and won 6-1 7-5. In the afternoon, victory for Lorenzo Musetti, who struggled quite a bit against the Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo in a match conditioned by rain (with multiple suspensions), wind and a heavy pitch. Despite the difficulties, the Italian debuted with a 7-6 7-6 success, playing like Musetti when it was really necessary. In front of him, Lorenzo will find the Portuguese Nuno Borges, seventh seed of the Sardinia Open and number 56 ATP, who beat Yoshihito Nishioka. Before Musetti, Luciano Darderi had also earned the quarter-finals for Italy, excellent in the duel against the Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli, beaten 6-3 6-0. Among the other big names, nothing to do for Christopher Eubanks, an American beaten in a comeback by the Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan. Tomorrow, Friday 3 May, on Centrale and live on SuperTennis, all the quarterfinals of the singles are scheduled, one after the other: Fucsovics-Galan, Musetti-Borges, Navone-Nava and Darderi-Coria
