"No War": Italy and Slovakia, before facing each other in the Davis Cup in Bratislava for the qualification to the group stage, together showed a banner on the field of the NTC Arena which is a common appeal and hope.
The Azzurri also exhibited T-shirts with the words "Stop the war", sported by the members of the bench.
The word was then passed to the field, even if the fact of playing less than 500 km from the war-torn Ukraine did not help the concentration of the athletes, and Italy at the end of the first day finds itself a little unexpectedly on the 1-1, because the victory of Jannik Sinner was followed by the defeat of Lorenzo Sonego.
The first match saw the South Tyrolean impose himself with more difficulty than expected on the number 110 in the world, Norbert Gombos,
who after losing the first set 6-4 replied with the same score to the South Tyrolean, still able to close to his advantage with a new 6-4 but only after more than two hours of play.
A new demonstration that in the Davis Cup there are no easy games.
After a few study games, Sinner in the fifth game took advantage of the first ball-break of the set, snatching the serve from Gombos and then defended the advantage to secure the first set.
In the second, Sinner hit the break already at the start but then the 31-year-old from Galanta took courage and recovered, equalizing the score and continuing to play well even in the decisive set.
In the ninth game, however, Sinner earned the chance to serve for the match, not missing it.
"In the middle of the second set, something changed - commented Sinner -. He didn't make a mistake.
especially the reverse and has begun to believe it.
In the third I pushed even more and I'm happy to have scored the point for Italy.
It was a tough game, but I expected it. "Less awaited was the defeat of Sonego, who instead of the Slovak No. 1 Alex Molcan (No. 66 in the world), who tested positive for a tampon, was called to beat the substitute, Filip Horansky (n.203). The Turin player, lost the first set at the tie break, disunited in the second game, even losing 6-3, to the delight of the home fans. Tomorrow the double, which will see Filip Polasek and Igor Zelenay opposing Simone Bolelli and Stefano Travaglia, will address the challenge, followed by Horansky who will face Sinner and Gombos Sonego.
In the third I pushed even more and I'm happy to have scored the point for Italy.
It was a tough game, but I expected it. "Less awaited was the defeat of Sonego, who instead of the Slovak No. 1 Alex Molcan (No. 66 in the world), who tested positive for a tampon, was called to beat the substitute, Filip Horansky (n.203). The Turin player, lost the first set at the tie break, disunited in the second game, even losing 6-3, to the delight of the home fans. Tomorrow the double, which will see Filip Polasek and Igor Zelenay opposing Simone Bolelli and Stefano Travaglia, will address the challenge, followed by Horansky who will face Sinner and Gombos Sonego.
In the third I pushed even more and I'm happy to have scored the point for Italy.
It was a tough game, but I expected it. "Less awaited was the defeat of Sonego, who instead of the Slovak No. 1 Alex Molcan (No. 66 in the world), who tested positive for a tampon, was called to beat the substitute, Filip Horansky (n.203). The Turin player, lost the first set at the tie break, disunited in the second game, even losing 6-3, to the delight of the home fans. Tomorrow the double, which will see Filip Polasek and Igor Zelenay opposing Simone Bolelli and Stefano Travaglia, will address the challenge, followed by Horansky who will face Sinner and Gombos Sonego.
tested positive for a swab, he was called to beat the substitute, Filip Horansky (# 203).
The Turin player, lost the first set at the tie break, broke up in the second game, even losing 6-3, to the delight of the home fans.
Tomorrow the double, which will see Filip Polasek and Igor Zelenay opposed to Simone Bolelli and Stefano Travaglia, will address the challenge.
Following Horansky will face Sinner and Gombos Sonego.
tested positive for a swab, he was called to beat the substitute, Filip Horansky (# 203).
The Turin player, lost the first set at the tie break, broke up in the second game, even losing 6-3, to the delight of the home fans.
Tomorrow the double, which will see Filip Polasek and Igor Zelenay opposed to Simone Bolelli and Stefano Travaglia, will address the challenge.
Following Horansky will face Sinner and Gombos Sonego.