Tennis

Lorenzo Musetti, the 22-year-old Italian tennis sensation, has continued his impressive run on grass courts by reaching his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon. On Monday, Musetti defeated lucky loser Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in four sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the last eight.Musetti's victory marks a significant milestone in his career, as he had never previously reached the quarterfinals of a major tournament. His performance at Wimbledon is a testament to his growing maturity and confidence on grass, a surface that he has traditionally struggled on.In the match against Mpetshi Perricard, Musetti displayed his trademark aggressive style of play, generating 23 winners while committing only eight unforced errors. He broke his opponent's serve four times and saved all three break points he faced.Musetti's coach, Simone Tartarini, played a crucial role in his victory. Before the match, Tartarini advised Musetti to be aggressive on break points and to force Mpetshi Perricard to play from behind. Musetti followed his coach's instructions to perfection, breaking his opponent's serve at key moments in the match.Musetti's success at Wimbledon is a continuation of his strong form on grass this season. He reached the semifinals in Stuttgart and finished runner-up at the Queen's Club Championships in London. His 11 wins on grass this year are a testament to his adaptability and his ability to perform at his best on different surfaces.In the quarterfinals, Musetti will face either Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz. Zverev is a former world number two and a finalist at the French Open this year, while Fritz is a rising star who recently won the Eastbourne International. Musetti will be the underdog in either matchup, but he will be confident in his ability to cause an upset.Musetti's performance at Wimbledon is a reminder of his immense potential. He is a player with a bright future, and he is capable of achieving great things in the sport.

Fabio Fognini, the former world No. 9, has made history by reaching the second week of Wimbledon for the first time in his career. The 37-year-old Italian, now ranked No. 94, defeated No. 8 seed Casper Ruud in a thrilling four-set battle, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (1), 6-3.Fognini's victory marks his first Top 10 win since the 2023 French Open and his first at Wimbledon since 2010. It also extends his streak of reaching the second week at every major except Wimbledon.The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Ruud rallying from 2-5 down in the third set and saving a match point to force a tiebreak. However, Fognini remained composed and eventually broke Ruud's serve in the fourth set to seal the victory.Fognini's success at Wimbledon is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite being an underdog, he has consistently performed well on the grass courts of the All England Club. In 2010, he reached the third round for the first time and came close to making the round of 16 in 2014.Fognini's victory over Ruud is a major upset and has sent shockwaves through the Wimbledon draw. He will now face either compatriot Lorenzo Sonego or former semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.Ruud, on the other hand, will be disappointed to have exited Wimbledon so early. The Norwegian was bidding to reach the third round for the first time in five attempts. He will now turn his attention to clay, where he is scheduled to play Bastad and Kitzbuhel in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the unseeded Italian, has captivated Roland-Garros with her stunning performances and infectious personality. After defeating two Top 20 players, including No. 17 seed Liudmila Samsonova, Cocciaretto has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.Cocciaretto's journey to the fourth round has been marked by her resilience and determination. In her first-round match against No. 13 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, she rallied from a set down to secure a memorable victory. Against Samsonova, she faced a similar challenge, trailing 6-5 in the first set. However, she refused to be deterred, digging deep to win the set in a tiebreaker.Beyond her on-court prowess, Cocciaretto has also charmed the Parisian crowd with her warmth and humor. During her post-match interview with Mats Wilander, she greeted the crowd with a cheerful "Bonjour, Paris," eliciting thunderous applause. She then joked about her French language skills, admitting that she still had room for improvement.Cocciaretto's ability to connect with the crowd has been a refreshing sight at Roland-Garros, where the atmosphere has been somewhat subdued in the first week. Her infectious enthusiasm and willingness to embrace the French culture have endeared her to the fans."I'm really, really happy to have this support," Cocciaretto said. "It helped me a lot on the match point. It keeps me to be more aggressive, to go to win the point, so I'm really, really grateful about it, and I hope you'll come to support me for the next match."Cocciaretto's next challenge will be against No. 3 seed Coco Gauff, a 2022 finalist at Roland-Garros. The Italian will be aiming for her second career Top 10 win, having previously defeated Petra Kvitova in the first round of last year's tournament.With her captivating tennis and endearing personality, Elisabetta Cocciaretto has emerged as a crowd favorite at Roland-Garros. As she continues her journey through the tournament, she is sure to leave a lasting impression on the Parisian crowd and tennis fans around the world.

Matteo Arnaldi, the 23-year-old Italian tennis sensation, has made remarkable strides in his career, rising from obscurity to the cusp of the Top 30. His journey has been marked by resilience, determination, and a strong support system.At Roland Garros, Arnaldi has showcased his fighting spirit, overcoming adversity to reach the third round. In his second-round match against Alexandre Muller, he faced a pivotal 20-point game at 0-2 down in the third set. Arnaldi's ability to withstand six break points and emerge victorious proved crucial in securing the match.Arnaldi's rise has been steady and impressive. Three years ago, he was ranked outside the Top 900. Two years ago, he missed the Roland Garros qualifying cut. Last year, he made significant progress, reaching the fourth round of the US Open and winning the Davis Cup.His current ranking of No. 35 is a testament to his hard work and dedication. Arnaldi attributes his success to the unwavering support of his team, particularly his coach Alessandro Petrone. Their close relationship has been instrumental in his development.In his next match, Arnaldi faces a formidable challenge in world No. 6 Andrey Rublev. The Italian is eager to test his limits against the top players in the world. Despite previous setbacks against Alex de Minaur and Carlos Alcaraz, Arnaldi remains confident in his abilities.Arnaldi's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of a strong support system. As he continues to climb the rankings, he is poised to make a significant impact on the tennis world.

Matteo Berrettini, the Italian tennis star, has withdrawn from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia for the third consecutive year due to an undisclosed illness. The withdrawal comes as a major disappointment for Berrettini, who was eager to compete in his hometown tournament.Berrettini, who was scheduled to face Stefano Napolitano in the first round, explained that he made the difficult decision to withdraw after careful consideration. "I'm not ready to perform and to give my best on court," he said. "I tried everything because this tournament is extra special for me."The 28-year-old has been struggling with injuries in recent months. He was sidelined from September 2022 to March 2023 with an ankle injury and has not played since losing to Miomir Kecmanovic at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters in April.Despite his recent setbacks, Berrettini remains optimistic about his recovery. "I have to put away my heart, I would say, use my brain a little bit more," he said. "Think about what's most important for me, which is my health and not getting injured again, not being away from the courts for months potentially."Berrettini's next scheduled appearance is Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year. He had attempted to enter both the Geneva and Lyon tournaments as a protected ranking, but his ranking was not high enough to secure a spot. However, he could still receive a wild card or benefit from player withdrawals.The Internazionali BNL d'Italia is a prestigious clay-court tournament held in Rome. Berrettini has never won the tournament but reached the semifinals in 2019 and 2021. His withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament and to Italian tennis fans.

Camila Giorgi, the enigmatic Italian tennis star, has quietly retired from the sport, leaving the tennis world in a state of surprise. Her name recently appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) retired players list, confirming her departure from the tour.Giorgi's decision to retire came as a shock, as she had not publicly announced her intentions. She had not entered the recent Roland Garros tournament, but her absence had not raised any immediate concerns. The 32-year-old's last competitive match was at the Miami Open, where she lost to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the second round.Throughout her career, Giorgi was known for her aggressive style of play and powerful groundstrokes. She won four WTA Tour titles, including the prestigious Montreal tournament in 2021. Her best Grand Slam result was a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon in 2018.Giorgi's retirement marks the end of an era in Italian tennis. She was one of the country's most successful female players in recent years, alongside Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone. Her departure leaves a void in the Italian team and will be a significant loss for the sport.By declaring herself retired, Giorgi will need to make herself available for out-of-competition testing for at least six months if she has any change of heart down the road. However, given her lack of public statements and social media activity, it seems unlikely that she will return to the tour anytime soon.

Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, faced a tough challenge from Tallon Griekspoor at the Miami Open on Sunday. After a hard-fought first set, Sinner rallied to secure a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 victory, advancing to the round of 16.Sinner's path to victory was not without its obstacles. Griekspoor, ranked 54th in the world, saved three break points in the fourth game of the first set and broke Sinner's serve in the seventh game. The Dutchman also saved a set point in the second set before Sinner finally broke through.After the rain delay, Sinner's aggression paid off. He won eight of the final nine games, including the last five in a row. Sinner's first serve was a key factor in his success, winning 47 of 54 points."Mentally I tried to stay really strong," Sinner said after the match. "I was in a tough situation today. After the rain, I tried to come back a little bit more aggressive."Sinner's victory was not the only Italian success on Sunday. Matteo Arnaldi, ranked 117th in the world, upset Denis Shapovalov, the 12th seed, 6-3, 7-6 (7). Arnaldi saved a set point in the second-set tiebreak to secure the win.Lorenzo Musetti, the 16th seed, also advanced to the round of 16 with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Roman Safiullin. Musetti will face Ben Shelton, the 18-year-old American who defeated Martin Landaluce, 6-3, 6-4.

Italy's Jasmine Paolini has etched her name in tennis history by capturing the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title, becoming the second Italian woman to triumph in the prestigious WTA 1000 event.Paolini's victory over Anna Kalinskaya in an all-unseeded final marked a remarkable turnaround for the 26-year-old, who had lost to her opponent in the fourth round of the Australian Open just last month.The match was a thrilling affair, with both players showcasing their resilience and determination. Kalinskaya, ranked 40th in the world, appeared poised to claim the title when she led 6-4, 3-1 and served for the championship at 5-4 in the decider.However, Paolini refused to be denied. She rallied back with unwavering resolve, winning 16 of the last 19 points to secure a stunning 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory."I think maybe the key game was when I was down 2-0 in the second set," Paolini said. "I was serving. I said, 'C'mon, you have to try to play every point, you have to try to do something. Just think about simple things. Try to serve more maybe on the backhand, some more speed on the serve, try to move the ball.'"Paolini's triumph in Dubai is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has steadily climbed the WTA rankings in recent years and is now poised to break into the Top 15."I think every person has her own steps, story," Paolini said. "I need some more time to believe maybe that I could play at this level how I did this week. It's not going to be like this I know every week. It's tough. It's the best players in the world."Kalinskaya, despite falling short in the final, made history by becoming the first qualifier to reach the championship match of a WTA 1000 event since the format was introduced in 2009. Her impressive run included victories over three Top 10 players, including world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.