Matteo Arnaldi pulled off a stunning upset at Roland-Garros, joining the likes of Jannik Sinner and Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second week of the tournament. The unseeded 23-year-old Italian showcased the best tennis of his career to defeat sixth seed Andrey Rublev in an impressive fashion. Arnaldi, who had never beaten a top 20 opponent on clay or a top 10 rival at a major, showed grit and skill in his victory over the Russian.
In a match that lasted two hours and 33 minutes, Arnaldi outplayed Rublev with 47 winners, including 40 on his forehand side. Despite Rublev’s firepower on serve, Arnaldi managed to secure more aces and win a higher percentage of first and second-serve points. The Italian’s performance was highlighted by his mental fortitude and strategic play, which kept Rublev on the back foot throughout the match.
Arnaldi’s success on the clay courts of Paris marked a significant milestone in his career, as he advanced to the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. His next opponent will be ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Zhang Zhizhen from China, setting the stage for another thrilling matchup. As Arnaldi continues to defy expectations and make waves in the tennis world, fans eagerly anticipate his future performances on the tour.
