Francesco Passaro enjoys the first time. And thanks Fabio Fognini

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Francesco Passaro enjoys the first time. And thanks Fabio Fognini

An unforgettable day for Francesco Passaro at the Australian Open. Reselected as a lucky loser due to Fabio Fognini’s forfeit, the Umbrian tennis player made it through the first round thanks to the withdrawal of Grigor Dimitrov, who was forced to raise the white flag at the beginning of the second set, centering for the first time in his career a success in the main draw of a Grand Slam.

“I’m happy for my first victory in a main draw Slam, although I’m sorry for Fabio and Grigor who I hope can recover soon" stressed Passaro to the microphones of SuperTennis.

Thanks to this victory, the blue è virtually number 89 in the ATP ranking: "I take a weight off. For me è it was always a goal and maybe to chase it I put too much pressure on myself. I was always thereì close but I could never get there, but today I am more conscious than two years ago, maybe when I was 108 I wasn" ready yet.

"We knew that someone was not at their best, but of course until the’last moment you never know what is going to happen,& explained the 24-year-old from Perugia. “Fabio warned us a little earlier and gave us time to prepare for the game, and for that I thank him. It’ was a nice thought, I hope he can recover soon also becauseé è a great player and a nice person".

"It è never nice to win by withdrawal but this victory I think I deserved it because of the efforts and sacrifices I made, also because of the many injuries that prevented me from moving up the rankings earlier. I took the court calmly, trying to play my game, with the idea of enjoying the opportunity to play against a Top 10, in such an atmosphere, in one of the four most important tournaments in the world" concluded Passaro.

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