Surprise result in the Italian derby: the number 2 seeded beaten 6-2 6-3. The Pesaro native will face the American Damm in the quarterfinals
Four times against at ATP level, four times the same result. Luca Nardi again beats his colleague and friend Flavio Cobolli, second seed at the ATP 250 in Montpellier, with a score of 6-2 6-3. A performance as eye-catching from the Pesaro player, in control of the match with his brilliant, clean game, from start to finish, as it was subdued from the Roman. Who continues to have difficulties at the beginning of 2026, with the third defeat in four matches played. An hour and fourteen minutes lasted a one-sided match, which rewarded Nardi’s initiative and aptitude for fast courts, who for his part could smile, returning to win two matches in a row at ATP level for the first time since last August in Cincinnati. And with this victory, obtained also thanks to 74% of the points won on serve, he virtually finds himself back in the top 100 at no.97.
what a start
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Nardi immediately starts strong, showing off his best tennis, which he had so enchanted over the years as a promising young player, prefiguring great feats for his career. Especially from the backhand side he puts Cobolli in clear difficulty, who is usually at ease from the left. Thus comes the break, in the fifth game: Luca first dominates the exchange from the baseline, commanding with the forehand, then concludes by attacking the point at the net, undermining Flavio’s certainties. Who, even with a few too many errors (eleven unforced errors in the first set alone) surrendered with a score of 6-2 after 28 minutes, losing the fourth set in a row against his friend from the Marche region. Instead he scores four winners, three forehands, a natural shot and fielded with excellent fluidity and speed.
the paw
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In the second set Nardi is still in control of the game, cutting the court and also going to the net to close the volley. In this case however, even granting something more, he finds greater opposition from Cobolli, which grows as the games go by: fewer errors and more quality in the exchange. It is the Roman who serves first, and cancels break points. However, he too, taking advantage of a slightly more balletic first than Nardi, manages to have his chances in response: two in total, but none that then turn into a break. And so Luca bites in the seventh game, taking 4-3 and serve also thanks to a couple of plays worth reviewing from the world no.20, who was never fully in the match. Sensations confirmed shortly after, with the double break for Nardi which was worth the match, generated by yet another error in Cobolli’s exchange. This brings the 2003 class to the third career victory (after Djokovic at Indian Wells 2024 and Mensik at Cincinnati 2025) against a top 20 player. In the quarter-finals, reached for the second time on the main circuit after Dubai 2025, he will face the American Martin Damm.
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