Luciano Darderi beats Canadian Shapovalov in a tight 3-set match. Matteo Berrettini withdraws from the Italian Open on day one, saying he was not physically ready.
Matteo Berrettini on Wednesday pulled out of the Italian Open saying he was not fit and risked being injured and having to stay on the sidelines again.
“I won’t be able to play, I tried doing everything, but I’m not ready to compete,” said the 28-year-old Roman.
“I risk hurting myself and being sidelined.” Berrettini, who lost a Wimbledon final to Serb Novak Djokovic, has been as high as number six in the world.
Darderi and Cobolli through to second round
On day one of the Italian Open, which was shortened by rain, two Italian men made it through to the second round of the draw.
Darderi was up against Canadian Daniel Shapovalov who is playing with a protected ranking having returned from injury. A close match from start to finish, Darderi triumphed 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.
Darderi accelerated in the second set after a tightly contested first, taking it 6-3. The third set saw him 4-2, before Shapovalov pegged him back. And it was looking ominous at 40-40, 5-5 on Darderi’s serve before the Italian regrouped, taking the tie-break 7-4.
Flavio Cobolli had an easier match, winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-25 against German qualifier Maximilian Marterer.
Women’s Singles
In the women’s singles, Elisabetta Cocciaretto was 5-2 down against Mexican Renata Zarazua before play was suspended.
Bronzetti was beaten by Sofia Kenin, now of the USA, 6-3, 6-2 and was joined in the locker room by Brancaccio who lost 6-4,6-2 to Siniakova of the Czech Republic.
Five Italian women and all the remaining men are in action today.
