Matteo Berrettini staged a remarkable comeback at Roland Garros, winning an epic five-hour 13-minute battle against Francisco Comesana in the first round. The 30-year-old Roman defeated the Argentine 7–6, 5–7, 6–7, 6–4, 15–13 in a super tie-break that lasted 80 minutes alone, saving two match points and squandering two of his own before Comesana's final error handed him victory. Berrettini, who has endured five years of injury setbacks that saw him drop from world No. 6 to No. 105, displayed the quality that earned him the nickname "The Hammer" during his 2021 Wimbledon final run, striking 70 winners and converting 81% of first-serve points.
Flavio Cobolli, his younger teammate (six years his junior), proved equally dominant on the red clay, dismantling Learner Tien 6–2, 6–2, 6–3 in a display of power and variety to reach the Round of 16 for the first time at Roland Garros. Cobolli, who plays for AS Roma's academy side TC Aniene, said: "I'm happy, it's the first time I've won a match on the main court of a Slam and it's good to do it in front of my friends. The Davis Cup helped me face these big stadiums, the pressure of such a large crowd and the difficulties. I want to think match by match. Although dreaming is never wrong: whoever dreams the most wins. And I know that here there is, perhaps, one more possibility than at other Slams: it's the surface I like the most."
Matteo Arnaldi also advanced to the last 16, rallying from two sets down to beat Collignon 6–4, 6–7, 5–7, 6–4, 10–4 with a legendary backhand pass. The trio's success marks the seventh time three Italian men have reached Roland Garros's second week, notably without Jannik Sinner, who is undergoing medical assessment in Turin.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Lassù qualcuno voleva dare un'altra possibilità a Matteo Berrettini, dopo tanta sfortuna, con troppi infortuni, troppi stop e troppe sfide alla sua forza di volontà fino a trascinarlo dal numero 6 al 105 del mondo. E, cinque anni dopo l'ultima passerella al Roland Garros sulla terra rossa, la…”
Read the full article in Italian at Il Messaggero – Roma.
