Paris, 31 May 2024 – Matteo Arnaldi reaches the round of 16 of Roland Garros by beating the world number 6, Andrei Rublev, in three sets.
The Italian, n.35 ATP, beat the Russian in two hours and 33 minutes of play with a score of 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, 6-4. “I played the best tennis of my career, without a doubt,” says the 23-year-old from Sanremo, who is now waiting for the winner of the match between the Chinese Zhang Zhizhen and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded number 9.
Arnaldi, who equals his career-best result in a Slam tournament after the round of 16 at the 2023 US Open, manages to level up in key moments, which end up deciding each set. In the first half, the blue recovers the break scored by Rublev and in the tie-break he erases a set-point with a splendid backhand down the line: it's the turning point, Arnaldi takes the first set and flies away.
The second set lasts a handful of minutes: from 2-2, the Russian disappears from the court, receives 2 breaks, destroys a racket and loses 6-2. The finish line is close and Arnaldi does not tremble: the Ligurian maintains control of the match in the third set thanks to an efficient serve (13 aces, 68% of first balls), he sinks the shot in the seventh game with the break which is worth the decisive extension . Rublev sinks under 37 free errors and gives up.
