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Frances Tiafoe and Andrea Pellegrino embrace in Rome on Monday.
By Sam Jacot
World No. 155 Andrea Pellegrino set a potential fourth-round match with Jannik Sinner on Monday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where he became the third-lowest-ranked man to reach the last 16 in Rome this century.
The 29-year-old Italian qualifier had never won a match above ATP 250 level before his arrival in Rome but kept his dream run going with a 7-6(8), 6-1 win against American Frances Tiafoe.
“It is amazing," Pellegrino said. "When I came here at the beginning of the tournament, I didn’t expect to have this kind of result. I am very happy with my game. I have played five matches and it is a really good level. I am so happy.”
In a lively match on BNP Paribas Arena, Pellegrino led 4-0 and held two set points at 5-3 in the first set. After missing his chance, the Italian blew a further three opportunities in the tie-break before he fended off set points himself at 6/7 and 7/8.
The 29-year-old eventually sealed the opener on his sixth opportunity and then raced through the second set to win three consecutive tour-level matches for the first time. Following the one-hour, 57-minute clash, Tiafoe walked round the net to embrace Pellegrino, who then raised his arms aloft.
“I started very well, playing really well," Pellegrino added. "Then I started to think I was up and became a bit tight. His level got up and the match was not easy because of the wind. But I was there every point, fighting every point.”
Pellegrino earned qualifying wins in Rome against Hugo Gaston and Martin Landaluce, who is also into the fourth round after being handed a lifeline as a lucky loser. Pellegrino then beat Luca Nardi and advanced to the third round when Arthur Fils retired, trailing 0-4 in the first set.
Pellegrino, a four-time ATP Challenger champion, is competing in the main draw at a Masters 1000 event for the first time. He will meet Jannik Sinner on Tuesday if the World No. 1 defeats Alexei Popyrin in the third round.
“If I play against him it will be a really good experience for me," Pellegrino said. "Maybe we will play on Centre, where I have never played.”
Sinner and Pellegrino met in the final of an ITF Men's World Tennis Tour event in 2019, with Sinner, then aged 17, winning 6-1, 6-1.
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