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ROME – An early start for Canadian tennis fans as Félix Auger-Aliassime was first up on the Grand Stand Arena against qualifier Alexei Popyrin, who is a contemporary of his from the junior days. But by the time it all wound down – not in FAA’s favour – pretty much everyone was probably already up.
No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic begins his defence of his title, against a rising young Argentine named Tomas Etcheverry. He almost let the first set get away. But in the end he got through.
Tommy Paul v Cristian Garin was good – and an upset.
Holger Rune is playing someone even younger then he is – young Frenchman Arthur Fils. He tought the kid a lesson.
And on the opposite end of the spectrum, Stan Wawrinka meets Grigor Dimitrov.
Oh, and young Ben Shelton meets the force that Alexander Bublik (sometimes). Who also tought the kid a clay lesson. Shelton is playing everything, doubles too. So this first big clay-court season is a big learning curve for him.
(Rome is six hours ahead of EDT).
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Internazionali BNL d’Italia
Location: Rome, Italy (Joint event with the WTA Tour)
Category: ATP 1000
Dates: May 9 – 21, 2023
Prize money: €8,637,966
Draws: S96 – D32
Friday, May 12, 2023
Final results
Singles, second round
Canadian Content
[Q] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) def [10] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 64 46 75
Upsets
Cristian Garin (CHI) def [16] Tommy Paul (USA) 46 63 64
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) def [17] Alex de Minaur (AUS) 63 64
[Q] Roman Safiullin (RUS) def [22] Sebastian Korda (USA) 62 76 (5)
Laslo Djere (SRB) def [23] Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) 62 64
[WC] Fabio Fognini (ITA) def [30] Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 63 76 (6)
Seeds advancing
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) def Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) 76 (5) 62
[4] Casper Ruud (NOR) def. Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 64 60
[7] Holger Rune (DEN) def. [Q] Arthur Fils (FRA) 63 63
[8] Jannik Sinner (ITA) def. [Q] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 61 64
[13] Cameron Norrie (GBR) def. [Q] Alexandre Muller (FRA) 63 64
[24] Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) def. Yibing Wu (CHN) 46 62 63
[26] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) def. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 64 76 (3)
Other results
[LL] Alexander Shevchenko (RUS) def Sebastian Baez (ARG) 63 64
Doubles, first round
[3] Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Austin Krajicek (USA) def. Nicolas Mahut / Fabrice Martin (FRA) 57 62 [10-6]
Tim Puetz / Kevin Krawietz (GER) def. Marcelo Melo (BRA) / Alexander Zverev (GER) 36 63 [10-6]
[WC] Andrea Pellegrino / Andrea Vavassori (ITA) def Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) / Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 64 36 [10-6]
Hugo Nys (MON) / Jan Zielinski (POL) def Maxime Cressy (USA) / David Vega Hernandez (ESP) 63 63
More Stories
ATP Tour – Tuesday OOP
WTA Tour – Tuesday OOP
ATP Tour – Monday results