A squad of 10 Azzurri faces the first round of the US Open, the fourth and last slam of the season, on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows (New York) on the Italian night. From Berrettini to Fognini, from Sinner to Sonego, the best of Italian tennis on the field. The first to conclude his labors was Lorenzo Musetti. The 19-year-old from Carrara, # 60 ATP, beat the American Emilio Nava (# 385, on the draw thanks to a wild card) 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 in just over two and a half hours. The next obstacle is another American, Reilly Opelka, n.24 in the ranking. Matteo Berrerrini also promoted. The Roman, number 8 in the world, got the better of the French Jeremy Chardy (n.70) in three sets at the end of a hard-fought match, which lasted 2h30 ‘. The first two fractions Berrettini won at the tiebreak, the third ended 6-3. Instead, it went badly for Salvatore Caruso. The 28-year-old from Avola, n.113 ATP, faced the Japanese Kei Nishikori (n.56). After losing the first two sets (double 6-1), he fought like a lion winning the third 7-5, also thanks to the decline of the opponent. Which, having recovered, closed the fourth set 6-3.
The day was characterized above all by the controversy unleashed by Andy Murray who just did not digest the elimination, according to him the result of improprieties. “Stefanos Tsitsipas takes twice as long to go to the bathroom as Jeff Bezos to go to space,” the Scot joked on Twitter, hours after the defeat in 5 sets. But already in the press conference he had given vent to bitterness: «He abused all the rules that allow you to break the rhythm of the game. I have lost all respect for him ». Tsitsipas allowed himself several stops: to have his right foot arch treated by a physiotherapist, to replace the racket or go to the bathroom and locker rooms, to change at the end of the fourth set. An absence lasting seven minutes. “When you play such a difficult game and you stop for seven or eight minutes, you get cold. You can mentally prepare as much as you want, but the point is, it affects you physically. And it was like this throughout the match – Murray complained – I’m disappointed because I think it influenced the final result ». “If you have a problem, tell me to my face. I don’t think I have broken any rules – Tsitsipas defended himself – As far as I know, two bathroom breaks are allowed in a five-set match ».