Flavio Cobolli wins derby and deserves Alexander Zverev

Paris is tinged with blue in the second round of Roland Garros with the Italian derby between Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi. At stake was a place in the third round of the Parisian Slam and, above all, a confirmation of his own path of growth. Coming out on top in the first two sets was the Roman, who was solid and precise, but the Sanremese did not give up and clung to the match with a great fighter’s reaction in the third partial.

The match, played in the third round of the Slam in Paris, was played by the Italian.

The match, played on court 6, began with great balance. The first few games saw both players hold serve with authority, but it was Cobolli who first found the right breakthrough. In the seventh game he broke Arnaldi’s serve by taking advantage of a few too many errors, and from there he closed out the first set 6-3, keeping the intensity high.

The second set was a very balanced affair.

The second set was even more eventful. Breaks and counterbreaks followed one another in a whirlwind of emotions, but in the end Cobolli showed more lucidity at key moments, closing again 6-3 and taking a two-set lead. It seemed the prelude to a quick close, but Arnaldi, far from giving up, brought out the best in his repertoire.

The third set was a battle of nerves and spectacular shots. Cobolli had a chance to serve for the match, but Arnaldi reacted strongly, recovering the break and dragging the set to the tie-break. Here the Sanremese played with courage and determination, coming back from an early disadvantage to impose himself 8-6. A response of pride that inflamed the Parisian audience and completely reopened the challenge.

In the fourth, however, there was no match: Cobolli firmly took back the match and closed games with a clear 6-1, deserving of a center court match against Alexander Zverev.