Rome: Rafael Nadal comes out on top, Corentin Moutet, Alexandre Müller and Varvara Gracheva in the second round… What to remember from Thursday’s matches
Not yet imperial in Rome. Returning to the Italian Masters 1000, where he has already won ten times, Rafael Nadal won his first round by overthrowing the Belgian Zizou Bergs (4-6, 6-3, 6-4), Thursday May 9. A victory which, without completely reassuring his level of play, allowed the Spaniard to test himself over time. A day which started badly for the French clan with the eliminations of Arthur Rinderknech, despite three match points, and Grégoire Barrère, soundly beaten by Thiago Seyboth Wild.
It was ultimately the lucky loser Corentin Moutet and the qualifier Alexandre Müller who saved the record of French tennis among men, by beating opponents ranked in the Top 50. In the women’s draw, Varvara Gracheva, the only Frenchwoman on the Roman courts today ‘today, has imposed itself. There will be five men and two women from the tricolor clan in the second round of the Roman tournament. Three of them (Térence Atmane, Caroline Garcia, then Corentin Moutet) are scheduled on Central on Friday.
The Mallorcan alternated between good and bad on the central court, but he continues his journey in the transalpine capital. Guilty of too many errors in the first set after breaking, the Bull of Manacor gave up his serve twice, allowing his opponent, from qualifying (108th in the world), to conclude with a smash on a shutout. But he restarted after the match was interrupted due to discomfort in the stands, at the end of a second round which he did not outrageously dominate, finding himself too often lacking length on his surface preferential.
The enormous “Vamos!” screamed after equalizing in pain re-energized him for the end of the match. No matter if his opponent was named Zizou in homage to one of the greatest legends of his favorite club, Nadal – finally incisive – coolly returned the score after 2h53 of combat, Real Madrid style. In the second round, the 305th player in the ATP ranking will nevertheless have to do much more to hope to shake the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (9th in the world).
The French number 1 gives up. In delicacy with his left knee, Ugo Humbert (15th) preferred not to force it two weeks before the Porte d’Auteuil Major, reserving himself for a possible passage through the Lyon tournament next week. Bad news which adds to the defeats of Arthur Rinderknech and Grégoire Barrère.
- For more: Elrisala website and for social follow us on Facebook
- Source of information and images “francetvinfo“
