Masters 1000 Madrid: Five Italians on the field, crucial challenges for Musetti and Berrettini

Five Italians will take to the field today Madrid to try to gain passage to the last 16 of this 1000 Masters. The first is Lorenzo Mustetti, number 11 in the ATP ranking, who will face the Argentine Thomas Martin Etcheverry (51). Next up will be Lorenzo Sonego (43) who will have to deal with the Australian Alex de Minaur (7). The program then includes Matteo Berrettini (31) meets the American Marcos Giron (45). Complicated match for Matthew Arnaldi (44) which will have as its opponent an institution such as Novak Djokovic (5). "It takes a while - said the Serbian champion - for people to accept the fact that Roger Federer and Rafa Rafa are no longer playing. With them, Andy Murray is also out. And one day it will be my turn. But I am trying to stay there and represent the older generation as best I can. Sport is more important than any individual. We are all here at the service of tennis".

Finally Luciano Darderi (46) closes the Italian series against the American Frances Tiafoe (17). Yesterday, however, the experience of Federico Cinà (373) ended, having been eliminated in the second round by Sebastian Korda (24) at the end of a very hard-fought match 6-3 3-6 6-1. Flavio Cobolli, on the other hand, passed the round with his opponent, the Danish Holge Rune, who withdrew due to a physical problem after losing the first set. Things also went well for Jasmin Paolini. The 26-year-old from Bagni di Lucca, number 6 in the WTA ranking, beat British Katie Boulter in two sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2, in an hour and a minute of play. Tomorrow she will face Greek Maria Sakkari, number 82 in the international ranking.

Meanwhile the Tennis internationals which will be staged in Roma From Tuesday until May 18, 2025 they are warming up their engines waiting to see the world number one back on the field Jannik Sinner. One of the novelties is that Jacopo Berrettini, thanks to a wild card, will play in the main draw of the doubles together with his brother Matteo. The "Berrettinis", therefore, will be able to put on a show in their home tournament.

"A dream come true - the two wrote on social media. Thank you for the opportunity". Together, the brothers Jacopo and Matteo played for the first time in professional tournaments at the Future F24 in Piombino in 2015, losing in the first round. Their first victory dates back to the Cortina Challenger in 2017. Their best result, however, came with the tournament in which they debuted in doubles on the ATP circuit, in Cagliari in 2021. On that occasion they reached the semifinal, stopped by Simone Bolelli and Andreas Molteni. They then played two other ATP tournaments, without obtaining other successes, in Florence in 2022 and in Acapulco in 2023.