The Piedmontese tennis player beat Serbian Laszlo Djere in three sets (2-6, 7-6, 6-4) at the end of a three hour and one minute marathon match
CAGLIARI. Lorenzo Sonego welcomes with a liberating shout the double success in the ATP tournament in Cagliari – yesterday in the double, his first overall title, today 11 April in the single, second in his career in the circuit and first on clay -, the best viaticum for nine Azzurri who from tomorrow will seek new glory in the Masters 1000 in Montecarlo.
The Piedmontese beats Serbian Laslo Djere to a comeback and also celebrates his entry into the world top 30 from tomorrow, thus reaching Matteo Berrettini (# 10), Fabio Fognini (# 17) and Jannik Sinner (# 22). It is the first time that four Italians are together in the top 30 of the ranking and together with Salvatore Caruso, Marco Cecchinato, Thomas Fabbiano, Stefano Travaglia and Lorenzo Musetti will try to do everything possible to improve further on a large stage where all the occupants will be waiting for them. of the top 10, including # 1 Novak Djokovic and # 3 Rafa Nadal. Sonego will have until Tuesday, when he will make his debut in Monaco against the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, to recover from the fatigue of a very tough final. Against Djere, holder of the title, in the first set the Piedmontese tennis player did not find the key to the opponent’s bunker, regular and almost infallible. Two breaks and blue knockout: 2-6.
In the second Sonego began to understand something. But it was a grind solved only at the tie break after he found himself at 15-40 on 5 all. The break in the fifth game of the third set is also fundamental: from there Sonego has never let go of his hold for the 6-4 which is worth overtaking and the title. «I wanted to win at all costs – he said – also to honor the fact that we were playing in Italy. It was a battle, I am very tired but I am very happy and excited for the next match in Monte Carlo. I’m happy to have repeated Volandri’s 2006 success in Italy ». «I knew how difficult it was – he continued – Djere was very fit and you can see how he started. I changed strategy by staying closer to respond and improving my serve: it was important to lead the game ».
Now the gaze goes to Montecarlo, where tomorrow the first to take the field will be the Tuscan Musetti, who will face the Russian Karatsev and Fognini, who will have to deal with the Serbian Kecmanovic. The Ligurian will not be the favorite but remains the reigning champion, given that in 2020 the tournament was not played due to the pandemic. In 2019, he became the first Italian to win a Masters 1000, and the first blue to triumph in Monte Carlo since Nicola Pietrangeli in 1968, beating Serbian Dusan Lajovic in the final on Easter Sunday.
If Fognini is the defending champion, the king of the tournament is Nadal, who has won it eleven times and is determined to extend the series, but will have to deal with Djokovic, who won the Australian Open in February but from then he stopped playing due to a muscle problem. “I feel physically ready – said the world number 1 – and I can’t wait to play my first game”. Wednesday’s match could put him in front of Sinner, who will have to earn this honor by beating Spaniard Ramos first. (Handle).