By winning Acapulco the Russian can unseat Djokovic from the world throne. Tonight the Roman against Paul and Sonego-Wolf. Rafa in his first match after the Australian Open
Matteo Berrettini returns to the field tonight who, fresh from the defeat in the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro, plays on the hard courts of Acapulco as he approaches the commitments of Indian Wells and Miami. Matteo, who confirmed himself to be number 6 in the world again this week, faces the American Tommy Paul not before 1 am in Italy (live on Sky and Supertennis). At around 5 in the morning Lorenzo Sonego also takes the field against the American qualifier JJ Wolf. Also from Acapulco Daniil Medvedev’s race to conquer the number 1 in the world restarts. first step against the loose cannon Benoit Paire. Should he win the tournament, the Russian will knock Novak Djokovic off the throne, stopping him at 361 weeks.
Scenarios for the throne
–
In addition to winning the tournament, Medvedev will graduate number 1 in the world if
– He reaches the final in Acapulco and Djokovic does not win the title in Dubai
– He reaches the semifinals in Acapulco and Djokovic does not make it to the final
– He reaches the quarterfinals of Acapulco and Djokovic does not reach the semifinals in Dubai
– Loses in the 1st round of Acapulco and Djokovic does not reach the quarters in Dubai.
Rafa is back
–
In the rich draw of Acapulco it is also up to Rafa Nadal, always in the night (around 3) against the lucky loser Denis Kudla. For Rafa, this is the first tournament after winning the 21st career Slam at the Australian Open. A victory and a record that, according to him, did not change his life: “Everything is exactly the same as before. The only thing that has changed is that now I can play tennis, which until a few months ago I couldn’t to do, that’s why I’m very happy with what happened in Australia. There are no titles that change your life, at the age of 35 I have experienced great joys but also disappointments, that’s why I live everything with great serenity “. At the Italian dawn it will also be the turn of Stefanos Tsitsipas opposed to the Serbian Laslo Djere.
The first matches
–
Meanwhile, the tournament began with a 3-hour and 14-minute super marathon needed by John Isner to beat Fernando Verdasco 7-5 6-7 7-6. The American bomber, who scored 29 aces in 18 batting rounds, had to face a match point below 2-5 in the third. But once he held the delicate turn to serve, Isner broke his rival, dragged him to the tie break dominating him by 7 points to 3. Taylor Fritz’s passage of the turn was much easier than he regulated with a double 6-3 in a hour and 33 minutes the French southpaw Adrian Mannarino. Another marathon instead between Sebastian Korda and Dusan Lajovic. The American, son of Petr, champion at the 1998 Australian Open, served for the match, but in the end it was the Serbian who came out victorious 7-5 in the third.
February 22 – 09:43
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED