AGI – Lorenzo Sonego beats Dominic Thiem in three sets and flies to the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome. The Piedmontese tennis player won the seeding number 4 at the end of a marathon lasting 3 hours and 24 minutes to 6-4, 6-7, 7-6. In the next round the blue will face the Russian Andrey Rublev.
The stop for the curfew
The match was suspended for 23 minutes between the second and third set to allow the spectators to return home in time for the curfew at 10 pm and so the stands were emptied to the great regret of the fans present.
Superb proof
Truly superb performance that of the 26-year-old from Turin, confirming the excellent state of form. In the first part he snatches the beat from the Austrian in the seventh game and takes the first set at the first useful opportunity. In the second, he only gives in to the tie-break for 7 to 5. Then, after a brief interruption to allow the public to escape in compliance with the curfew rules at 22, the number 33 of the world starts again in a big way and flies to 2-0. Thiem, however, seems to have more, he snatches the serve twice and goes to serve at 5-3: it seems over, but the Turin-born cancels a match-point and takes the challenge to a new tie-break where this time he manages to have the better. Now Rublev: only one precedent between the two, in favor of the Russian who last year won in two sets on the fast in Vienna.
Sonego’s words
“It wasn’t easy to play two sets with the fans and another one without, but I have my team and they supported me,” Sonego commented, “it’s incredible, a fantastic emotion. I’ve never come this far here at Rome and I am the only Italian left, I want to carry the flag of Italy forward. I dedicate the game to the fans which gave me great energy “.
.