Matteo Berrettini did his duty. The first Italian name on the scoreboard in the possible second round derby at Wimbledon, the Roman wrote it, beating the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in four sets. It ended 7-6 6-2 3-6 6-1 in two hours and 56′, with Berrettini who, especially in the fourth set after having suffered some back problems that required a medical timeout, used his head more than his legs. Berrettini had not played more than three sets in the same match since the defeat at Wimbledon against Alcaraz, given that the two matches at the US Open in August (including the one where he was injured against Rinderknech) had lasted three or two. And the fatigue, especially after having lost the third set (with a break suffered in the fourth game), risked mixing with the worry for another possible injury.
Instead, after the first set was decided in a tiebreak (with two break points saved by Matteo at 5-5) and after a second set dominated by Berrettini, who confirmed that he is in great shape on grass, in the first game of the fourth set there was an ace from the Italian on the possible break point at the start that changed the match definitively, with Fucsovics committing a fatal double fault in the fourth game and losing his serve again at 5-1.
Fognini and Paolini also win, Arnaldi is mocked
Berrettini’s was not the only Italian victory on the opening day of the Championships. The first to advance was Fabio Fognini, who was playing his 14th time at the Championships: Fognini beat the Frenchman Luca Van Assche 6-1 6-3 7-5 in two hours and 5 minutes and will now face Casper Ruud. Then it was Lorenzo Sonego to celebrate, eliminating the Argentine in three sets (6-4 7-6 6-4) Mariano Navoneseeded number 31 but far from comfortable on grass: in the second round there is the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
Nothing to do, however, for Matteo Arnaldi, defeated in a five-set marathon by the American Tiafoe, with the Sanremo native leading by two sets (7-6 6-2) before losing the next three (6-1 6-3 6-3). In the women’s draw, a winning debut also for Jasmine Paulini7-5 6-3 Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo, While they have lost Martina Trevisan, defeated 6-4 7-6 by the American Madison Keys, and Sara Errani, 7-6 6-1 from Czech Linda Noskova.
