(PRIMASPORT) SHANGHAI – At the ATP 1000 tournament in Shanghai, three Italian players were eliminated in the second round. Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini, and Lorenzo Musetti were forced to retire, while Italians Luca Arnaldi and Luca Darderi remain in the running.
Cobolli was defeated by Adrian Mannarino 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, his fourth consecutive defeat. The Roman had a difficult day, with numerous errors in the first set and several missed opportunities in the final. His position in the Race to the ATP Finals remains delicate, maintaining fifth place but with potential changes on the horizon.
Berrettini was defeated in straight sets by Brandon Nakashima, world number 19, 7-6, 7-5 in one hour and 52 minutes. The Italian committed 18 unforced errors in the first set, losing the tie-break 7-4 and suffering a decisive setback in the second set at 5-5.
Lorenzo Musetti, returning from injury, lost in three sets to China's Yi Zhou, ranked 277th and born in 2005, coached by Davide Sanguinetti. The match went to tie-breaks in the first and third sets, both won by the home player. Musetti had opportunities in the third set but failed to convert three crucial break points.
Remaining in the draw are Italians Luca Arnaldi, who will face American Taylor Fritz, and Luca Darderi, who will face Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. Both will take to the court on Saturday morning. (PRIMASPORT)
