Diego Schwartzman will compete in the main draw at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia one last time.
Two days after announcing his intention to retire next year at a tournament in Argentina, the 31-year-old Schwartzman beat Mikhail Kukushkin 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the final round of qualifying at the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 in Rome.
The former No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings Schwartzman, who has been renowned for his battling qualities throughout his career, completed victory after two hours and 50 minutes at the Foro Italico. Schwartzman holds a 10-8 career record in Rome, where he reached the semi-finals in 2019 and his only Masters 1000 championship match in 2020.
Hamad Medjedovic enjoyed a far more straightforward victory to seal his spot in the main draw. The 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion dispatched J.J. Wolf 6-1, 6-4 after converting three of six break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats. It was a second straight successful Masters 1000 qualification campaign for the 20-year-old Serbian, who reached the second round in Madrid after winning his way into the draw.
Botic van de Zandschulp, Thiago Monteiro, Zizou Bergs and Maximilian Marterer also sealed straight-sets victories on Tuesday to qualify. The former World No. 22 Van de Zandschulp beat Facundo Bagnis 6-3, 6-1, while Monteiro downed Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-4. The Brazilian lefty highlighted just how dangerous an opponent he can be, particularly on clay, by upsetting Stefanos Tsitsipas in Madrid 10 days ago.
Belgium’s Bergs overcame #NextGenATP star Shang Juncheng 6-4, 7-6(5). The 24-year-old will make just his third Masters 1000 main-draw appearance. Germany’s Marterer beat former Rome semi-finalist Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-4.
The only Italian competing in the final round of qualifying, Francesco Passaro did not disappoint his home fans with a tense victory against Duje Ajdukovic. The World No. 240 Passaro prevailed 7-6(5), 6-7(8), 7-6(3) in a two-hour, 57-minute marathon.
A trio of French players also advanced to the main draw in Italy. Alexandre Muller beat Radu Albot 7-5, 6-2, Gregoire Barrere overcame Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 7-6(7), and Terence Atmane saw off countryman Harold Mayot 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
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