Roland Garros: Cobolli and the Berrettini-Arnaldi derby in the quarterfinals. Italy celebrates even without Sinner

Italy’s tennis will also be without its idol Jannik Sinner but it wears well tre azzurri among the best eight at Roland Garros. They are through to the round of 16 Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini but above all a wonderful oneMatteo Arnaldi, what a comeback su Frances Tiafoe7-6 6-7 3-6 7-6 6-4 after a 5 hour and 30 minute battle.

The 24-year-old Roman, seeded number 10 in the tournament, beats the American Zachary Svajda (85 Atp) in four sets with the score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(5) after three hours and 19 minutes of play. Cobolliwho lost a set for the first time in the entire tournament, will challenge the Canadian Happy Auger-Also (6 Atp) who beat the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo (36 Atp) i 6-3 7-5 6-1.

Matteo Berrettiniafter the 5 hour and 13 minute marathon won in the round of 32 against FranciscoEaterconfirms his newfound condition by beating in three sets Juan Manuel Cerundolo by 6-3 7-6 7-6 after two hours and 28 minutes of the match. And in the next round he will face his own Arnaldi number 104 in the rankings, who achieves a feat by eliminating the American Chief, 22nd in the ranking, at the end of a match that featured many twists and pearls of beautiful tennis. For the first time in his career the Ligurian reaches the quarterfinals in a Slam tournament.

The Italians dream of the final

The blue tennis players are all in the draw he was in Jannik Sinnerwhere all the most popular opponents exited. And soCobolli, Berrettini and Arnaldi they can dream of going far ahead in the tournament and aiming for finale. There they might find the favorite Alexander Zverevor one of the three terrible boys who aspire to alongside Sinner and Alcaraz at the top of world tennis: Fonseca, Jodar and Mensik.

Cobolli: “Physically I’m fine”

“Physically I’m very well, so there would have been no problems in the event of a fifth set – he said Cobolli at the end of his match with Probably – I’m a little tired, but I think it’s normal. I was a bit nervous when I had to end the match. Sometimes it’s not easy when you have to close the game, especially if you’re ahead in the score as happened today.” Then he added: “At a certain point I had the worry of having to go to the fifth”, but he specifies that “I didn’t have the worry of saying ‘if I go to the fifth I’ll lose’. I was ready to fight in the round of 16 of a Slam. It would have been stupid to give up a fight.”

Berrettini: “I feel great, I’m happy”

As for Matteo Berrettinithe comment from the 30-year-old Roman is even more encouraging: “I feel great, I’m happy. Thank you so much for the support. That’s why we train and fight. That’s why I’m here enjoying this atmosphere.” These are the first words of Matteo Berrettini after the victory over the Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the round of 16 of Roland Garroswhere he won in three sets with a score of 6-3 7-6(2) 7-6(6). “Tennis? It’s the love of my life, otherwise I wouldn’t be here after all the injuries and bad moments – added the 30-year-old Roman -. Thanks to those people there I didn’t give up (indicating his corner, ed.). There were moments where it was tough, I didn’t have faith”. Then, onto the elimination of Sinner e Djokovic: “Do I feel like it’s different? There are so many players here who play incredible tennis, and this is an unpredictable sport. Jannik he won many tournaments in a row before, that was what wasn’t normal. This is a step back, but it will come back stronger. The board is full of strong players. I think about myself and I want to enjoy this victory”, he concluded Berrettini.