ROME – Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori they failed to reach the doubles final of the Internazionali d’Italia in Rome. The Italian pair – on the Centrale del Foro Italico – were overcome in the semi-final by the Salvadoran Arevalo and from Croatian Pavic who will find the Granollers/Zeballos pair in the final on Sunday: follow the live broadcast
3.55pm
Bolelli talks about the Olympics
Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori come out into the open: the seasonal goal is the Paris Olympic Games. “It’s an advantage for us to always play together – underlines Bolelli – other players, however, will go to the Olympics dry (i.e. without ever having played as a couple during the year, ed.), others will not play them because they don’t have a partner. However, it is an advantage for us. I don’t know how many couples will play ‘dry’ at the Olympics: the French will be there, some players are already doing doubles, but I don’t know what it will be like for them.”
3.40pm
Granollers/Zeballos, overtaking in the Race Ranking
Thanks to the success achieved in the doubles semi-final of the Internazionali d’Italia, the Granollers/Zeballos couple surpasses in the Race ranking the Italian couple Bolelli-Vavassori placing himself momentarily at the second place.
3.25pm
The words of Simone Bolelli
Simone Bolelli in the press room of the Foro Italico tennis stadium talks about today’s defeat. ”We experienced strong emotions – underlines the tennis player from Bologna – we wanted to do well in front of an audience that has always supported us. It’s a shame we didn’t go to the supertiebreak. In the second set we started off great: we were playing better than them then the game changed from one moment to the next“.
3.10pm
Doubles final: Arevalo/Pavic vs Granollers/Zeballos
Arevalo/Pavic, after beating the Azzurri in the semifinals, Bolelli-Vavassori will find the Granollers/Zeballos pair tomorrow in the doubles final of the Internazionali d’Italia
3.08pm
Granollers/Zeballos fly to the final
The Granollers/Zeballos pair entered the final of the doubles tournament of the Internazionali d’Italia: in the semi-final they beat the Bublik/Shelton pair in two sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
3pm
The words of Andrea Vavassori
There was a lot of regret in the press conference for having failed to reach the final: Andrea Vavassori, however, does not lose hope. ”We continue to grow – underlines the Turin tennis player – here we came close and sooner or later we will make a big splash. It’s a shame, if we had gone to the supertiebreak the Roman public would have dragged us along.”.
2.45pm
Bolelli-Vavassori, the numbers of the defeat
The defeat suffered by Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori against Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic was a copy of the match seen a few weeks ago in Monte Carlo. The Azzurri’s opponents prevailed with a score of 6-2, 7-6 in an hour and 23 minutes of play. In today’s defeat, the very low percentage on break points in favor of the Italians was decisive as they managed to capitalize on only 1 out of 6.
2.30pm
Bolelli, the final at the Italian Internationals is a taboo
The final of the Internazionali d’Italia doubles tournament remains a taboo for Simone Bolelli. The Bolognese tennis player had played at the Foro Italico two more doubles semi-finals: both in 2022 that in 2011 the tennis player – paired with Fabio Fognini had always stopped one step away from the final.
2.15pm
Bolelli/Vavassori, in Paris… in view of the Paris Olympics
The assault on the final of the Italian Internazionali failed, but the Bolelli-Vavassori duo have clear ideas about the next objectives to be achieved. The next appointment is at Roland Garros of Paris, but the dream remains the same Olympic Games. “Qualification is close” stated Andrea Vavassori who was echoed by Simone Bolelli: “I remember the Beijing edition – underlines the Bolognese – and there was a particular atmosphere: in Paris we will play on clay, a surface that we really like”.
2pm
Bolelli/Vavassori, second place at risk in the Race classification
The Race ranking could penalize the two Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori who are currently in second place. The two Italians are threatened by the couple Granollers/Zeballos engaged in a few minutes on Centrale del Foro Italico in the other semi-final of the doubles tournament against Bublik/Shelton. If the Granollers/Zeballos couple managed to access the the final of the Italian Internationals, they would override in the Race ranking the Italian couple.
1.45pm
Arevalo/Pavic fly to the final
The two tennis players are the first finalists of the doubles tournament of the Internazionali d’Italia 2024: tomorrow, on the Centrale of the Foro Italico, they will challenge the winning pair of the Bublik/Shelton match against Granollers/Zeballos.
1.30pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 6-7 (2-6)
Immediately mini break for the blue couple after the longest exchange of the match. Bolelli serving, Vavassori brings home the second point. The audience at the Foro Italico cheers on the blue couple. An error at the net gives the Arevalo-Pavic pair the first point. Arevalo serving: Vavassori fails to return. Overtaking by the Arevalo-Pavic pair. A few drops begin to fall on the Centrale of the Foro Italico. Vavassori’s double fault gives the opponents another point. The tape gives another point to the Arevalo-Pavic couple. Vavassori misses another response: four match points for the Arevalo-Pavic pair. Bolelli found an excellent response by canceling his opponents’ first match point. Another point for Vavassori after Bolelli’s serve. Arevalo makes a mistake on the exchange: third match point cancelled. But Pavic closes with an ace. The Arevalo-Pavic couple is the first finalist couple of the 2024 Internazionali d’Italia
1.21pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 6-6 (2-6)
Vavassori at service. Vavassori defuses Arevalo’s passing attempt and wins the first point of the game. Excellent smash from Bolelli after Pavic’s response. Arevalo’s response is long: three balls to go to the tie break. Another winning smash for the blue couple: we go to the tie break
1.17pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 5-6 (2-6)
The tape helps Arevalo who fortunately wins the first point. Pavic shoots on net after Vavassori’s response. Pavic’s smash leaves no chance for the two Italians. Arevalo wins the point at the net. Pavic serves to the body, the response ends on the net.
1.14pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 5-5 (2-6)
Bolelli serves to stay in the match. Excellent point on goal by Vavassori, who was quick to win the first fifteen. Another point from Vavassori. Pavic misses the return, three balls for 5-5. Another point for Vavassori.
1.10pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 4-5 (2-6)
Arevalo wins the first point. Winning response from Bolelli. Pavic scores an excellent point at the net. Vavassori fails to respond to Arevalo’s serve. Bolelli scores a point on his opponent’s second serve. Arevalo pushes on the serve and wins the overtaking game
1.07pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 4-4 (2-6)
Vavassori’s double fault puts the opposing pair ahead: it is the key moment of the match. Arevalo scores with the passer and wins two break points. Another mistake by Vavassori, the Arevalo-Pavic pair breaks in the eighth game
1.03pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 4-3 (2-6)
Pavic holds serve (three aces in this game for the Croatian) and paired with Arevalo shortens the blue pair of Bolelli and Vavassori, who are now ahead 4-3 in the second set after losing the first.
1:00 pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 4-2 (2-6)
Bolelli holds serve and together with Vavassori extends to 4-2 in the second set of the semi-final against Arevalo and Pavic, who however won the first set.
12.55pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 3-2 (2-6)
Three break points not exploited by Bolelli and Vavassori on Arevalo’s serve: the Azzurri still remain ahead 3-2 in the second set against the pair formed by the tennis player from El Salvador and the Croatian Pavic.
12.51pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 3-1 (2-6)
The blue pair extends: Vavassori holds serve at zero and together with Bolelli flies to 3-1 in the second set against Arevalo and Pavic.
12.48pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 2-1 (2-6)
Bolelli and Vavassori fail to get a new break, with Arevalo and Pavic moving the score in the second set and shortening the score on the Italian pair, now ahead 2-1: it is the Croatian who holds serve.
12.44pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 2-0 (2-6)
In this second set it’s another match: now the blue double is there, with Bolelli holding serve ‘at zero’ bringing the result to 2-0.
12.42pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 1-0 (2-6)
Great reaction from the blue double who immediately finds the break (‘to zero’) on Arevano’s serve at the start of the second set: Vavassori closes the game
12.38pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 2-6: the first set closed
In 28 minutes Arevalo and Pavic close the first set 6-2, lining up four games. The blue couple is bad.
12.33pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 2-5
Three consecutive games for Arevalo and Pavic, now Bolelli and Vavassori serve to stay in the set.
12.31pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 2-4
First break of the match, Arevalo and Pavic break serve and extend the lead to 4-2.
12.24pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 2-3
Arevalo holds the innings, 3-2.
12.21pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 2-2
Vavassori was excellent from the baseline and Boselli was equally attentive at the net. Still tied in this first set.
12.18pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 1-2
Two break points canceled out by Pavic, Italy only comes close to breaking.
12.14pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 1-1
The blue duo responded well and held the service shift with Bolelli.
12.11pm
Bolelli/Vavassori-Arevalo/Pavic 0-1
Perfect service turn by Arevalo who alone closes the game, leaving the Azzurri at 0.
12.05pm
Warm-up begins
The players on the pitch are warming up.
11:59
Everything is ready at the Centrale, we’ll be leaving soon
The Center is starting to fill up waiting for the blue couple’s match to start. In a few minutes the warm-up and then the start of the match.
11.47am
Bolelli and Vavassori are looking to the Olympics
The present says Internazionali BNL d’Italia, but the future is the Paris Olympics where the blue couple formed by Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori dreams of leaving their mark because “there is the hope of doing something great and unique. They are played in Paris, on clay, a surface where we can do well”admits Bolelli in the press conference after the victory in the quarter-finals against Koolhof and Mektic. “For me it would be an incredible emotion, it’s a dream and getting there together with a friend would be special. We should be almost sure of being there, we enjoy the moment, we are a close-knit team”echoes Vavassori.
11:37
Errani: “Bolelli and Vavassori are crazy”
Sara Errani, in the women’s doubles final together with Jasmine Paolini, hopes that the other Italian doubles cup, the one made up of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, can match their feat: “For me they are the best male couple, they are crazy, intelligent, I like to see them. I think and hope they get to the bottom of it.”
11.25am
Who could Bolelli and Vavassori challenge in the final?
In the event that Bolelli and Vavassori won the semi-final, they would find either the Zeballos-Granollers duo or the Bublik-Shelton duo in the final.
11.15am
What time do Bolelli and Vavassori play
The semi-final involving the Italian pair Bolelli-Vavassori is scheduled for today at the Foro Italico at 12pm on the Centrale.
