Internazionali d’Italia: Passaro deludes and Khachanov overwhelms him, Russian flies to the round of 16

Francesco Passaro’s adventure at the Rome Masters 1000 is interrupted in the third round, with a heavy defeat that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. The Perugian tennis player, after a dream start against Karen Khachanov, succumbed sharply under the blows of the number 23 in the seeding, who prevailed with a clean 6-3, 6-0 in just over an hour.

And to say that the beginning of the match portended a different story. Passaro, brilliant and aggressive, got off to a strong start and flew to 3-0 thanks to an immediate break and purposeful tennis. The Foro Italico audience dreamed of a feat. But it is only an illusion: from there on, the match changes face completely.

Khachanov, until that moment foul and contracted, gradually raises his level, especially with his forehand, and begins to dominate the exchange. Passaro, on the other hand, freezes, commits a series of free errors (there will be 14 in the first set alone) and loses rhythm, confidence and lucidity. The Russian thus strung together six consecutive games, ending the first set 6-3.

In the second partial, the script does not change: Khachanov continues to lead, while Passaro finds no more answers. The blue, visibly discouraged, gives way with a heavy 6-0, suffering six more consecutive games and bringing to 12 the total number of games lost in a row.

For Khachanov this is the first qualification to the round of 16 in a Masters 1000 this season. The next obstacle will be the winner of the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Laslo Djere. For Passaro, despite the disappointment, the satisfaction of reaching the third round in such a prestigious tournament remains, but more continuity will be needed to compete at this level.