2023-05-10 15:47:54
French hope Luca van Assche (85th in the world) was beaten by Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry (61st) 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, Wednesday in the first round in Rome for his first match of a table principal of Masters 1000. On the eve of his 19th birthday, the Frenchman started the game very well by immediately succeeding in the break, but he then gave up the next four games, including three blanks, to find himself trailing 4-1 then 5 -2.
He managed to come back to 5-5 and push his opponent to the decisive game. He then saved three set points before giving in on the fourth. Again, van Assche took the lead early in the second set by breaking away 3-0, but he lost the next six games and lost on the third match point.
It is therefore Etcheverry who will test the state of form of world No.1 Novak Djokovic, defending champion and in search of a seventh Roman crown but who is recovering from an elbow injury which prevented him from playing at Madrid.
Van Assche had failed four times in qualifying for a Masters 1000 category tournament and had only reached the second round of these qualifications once, last April in Monte Carlo. He had entered the main draw directly in Rome, benefiting from several packages from players higher ranked than him.
#Van #Assche #beaten #Rome #Masters #match