Tennis, in Cincinnati Sonego-Alcaraz: an unprecedented match

The summer continues on North American hard courts, with a view of the US Open. With Italy that is taking off great satisfactions: Jannik Sinner won the 500 in Washington, Camila Giorgi has just graduated champion of the WTA 1000 in Montreal. Now it’s up to Cincinnati, a prestigious appointment: eyes to the Italians. On the field between the men Berrettini, Sinner, Fognini and Sonego: the Turin player will face Carlos Alcaraz in the first round, in an insidious and extremely interesting challenge.

Change of pace

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Sonego, number 27 in the ranking, is fresh from the first round defeat in Canada against Humbert, in the tournament that ended with Medvedev’s victory in the final against Opelka. Previously, Lorenzo had taken part in the blue expedition at the Tokyo Olympics, with the second round defeat against Basilashvili after the victory against Daniel. In short, the Turin player has to engage on concrete after having impressed well on the grass: final in Eastbourne (defeat against De Minaur) and round of 16 at Wimbledon (defeat against Federer). In the season, the score on the fast is 7 wins and 9 defeats.

The numbers

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Alcaraz, number 55 in the ATP rankings, reached the Cincinnati draw by beating Monteiro and Ivashka in qualifying. For the very young Spaniard, born in 2003, this is the first tournament on concrete this summer: after the defeat in the second round of Wimbledon against Medvedev, the victory of the Umag tournament came, before the first round knockout in Kitzbuhel against Erler. Alcaraz’s last victory on hardcourt in 2021 in a main draw dates back to the first round of the Australian Open, against Van de Zandschulp: the balance this season is 3 wins and 4 losses. The interesting fact about Alcaraz is that, at the ATP level, the balance is positive against players who occupy a higher position in the standings: 13-12, which becomes 4-4 on hard courts. This is the first ever confrontation between Lorenzo Sonego and Carlos Alcaraz: whoever wins will face one between Bautista Agut and Dimitrov.