A thrilling day of tennis unfolded at the Moselle Open, with unexpected twists and turns! Italian player Lorenzo Sonego pulled off a stunning victory, while rising stars made their mark. Let's dive into the details!
Lorenzo Sonego, displaying remarkable resilience, triumphed over his compatriot and friend, Flavio Cobolli, in a hard-fought match. This win marks Sonego's fourth quarter-final appearance of the year. The final score was a nail-biting 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
But here's where it gets controversial... Cobolli, who has had a successful year with 31 wins, including titles in Bucharest and Hamburg, was hoping to break into the Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings. His early exit in Metz means he'll have to wait to achieve this milestone.
Sonego, who previously won the Metz title in 2022, is now set to face either Hugo Gaston or Daniel Altmaier in the quarter-finals. This victory is only his second Top 30 win of the season, highlighting the significance of this match.
Adding to the excitement, #NextGenATP star Alexander Blockx continued his impressive run, securing his second tour-level win of the season. The 20-year-old Belgian defeated Italian qualifier Francesco Passaro with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
And this is the part most people miss... Blockx is currently fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and is preparing to compete in the Next Gen ATP Finals next month. His performance against Passaro was particularly noteworthy, with 16 aces and saving 8 out of 9 break points. He's also climbed two spots to No. 100 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will next face Frenchman Clement Tabur.
Australian Aleksandar Vukic showcased his fighting spirit by saving two match points to defeat Corentin Moutet with a score of 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(8). Vukic now leads Moutet 2-0 in their head-to-head series and will face Matteo Berrettini in the second round.
Kyrian Jacquet and Daniel Altmaier also secured victories at the ATP 250. Jacquet, a French lucky loser, beat Luca Van Assche 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Altmaier eliminated Shanghai finalist Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4.
What do you think about Cobolli's early exit? Do you believe he can still break into the Top 20 next season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
