Lorenzo Sonego came back from one set down to beat India’s world number 95 Sumit Nagal 1-6 6-3 6-4 after 2 hours and 20 minutes reaching the quarter final at the Grand Prix Hassan in Marrakesh.
Nagal broke twice in the second and fourth games to race out to a 5-0 lead. The Indian player saved a break point in the seventh game before closing out the first set 6-1 on his first set point after 38 minutes.
Sonego earned a break point with a crosscourt forehand in the fourth game and converted it to take a 3-1 lead when Nagal made a smash error in the fourth game of the second set. Sonego dropped just two points on serve to win the second set 6-3 taking the match to the decider.
Nagal saved a break point in the third game of the decisive set. The Indian player earned two break points that would have led Nagal to serve for the match. Sonego saved them before earning his decisive break in the ninth game at deuce. The Italian player served out the win on his first match point after a forehand error from Nagal.
Sonego is playing his first match since taking his decision to part ways with his longtime coach Gipo Arbino.
“Nagal is a very tough opponent. Something changed in the second set. I tried to be more aggressive and I served very well. I am really happy to have reached the quarter final It’s wonderful to play in these conditions with so many Italian in the stands. I hope to qualify for the next round”, said Sonego.
Sonego set up an all-Italian quarter final match against Matteo Berrettini, who beat Jaume Munar 6-4 4-6 6-3 after two and a half hours.
Munar earned three break points in the fourth game of the first set, but Berrettini saved them to hold serve. Berrettini earned two break points in the seventh game and converted his second chance to take a 4-3 lead. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist held on his serve and served out the first set 6-4 with a hold at 15.
Berrettini earned the first break of the second set in the third game to take a 2-1 lead and held on his serve for 3-1. Berrettini earned two double break point in the fifth game but Munar won 13 consecutive points and earned the break point at love in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Munar held serve at love to take a 4-3 lead. Munar broke serve on his second set point in the 10thgame to close out the second set 6-4.
Munar saved two break points in the third game of the decider to hold serve for 2-1. Berrettini earned three more break points in the seventh game and converted his third chance when Munar sent a forehand wide. Berrettini held serve to love to take a 5-3 lead. The Italian player sealed the win on his first match point after a forehand error from Munar.
Pavel Kotov beat Flavio Cobolii 6-1 7-6 (7-5) in 1 hour and 58 minutes.
Kotov set up a quarter final against the winner of the match between Fabio Fognini and number 1 Laslo Djere.
Cobolli did not convert four break points in the first, third and seventh games. Kotov broke twice in the second and fourth games to race out to a 5-0 lead. Cobolli saved three set points in the seventh game, but Cobolli converted his fourth break point to seal the first set 6-1.
Kotov saved two break points in the eighth game and a set point in the tenth game. The Italian player saved three points at 5-6 in the 11th game. Kotov earned a mini-break to take a 3-2 lead after a double fault from Cobolli.
Cobolli won three consecutive points to take a 5-3 lead, but Kotov reeled off four consecutive points to close out the tie-break 7-5.
