(Paris) The Russian Andrey Rublev, recent winner of the Masters 1000 of Monte-Carlo and seeded N.7 at Roland-Garros, was overthrown on Friday in the third round by the Italian Lorenzo Sonego, 48th in the world, winner 5-7 , 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 after being down 2 sets to 0.
Rublev (7th in the world) is the third player of high caliber to leave the Paris tournament in a hurry after Daniil Medvedev (2nd) in the first round and the Italian Jannik Sinner (8th), beaten on Thursday.
The Russian had however started the match perfectly, even sticking a 6-0 to Lorenzo in the second set, after 1:20 of the match. Then the machine jammed, and the Italian’s confidence gradually swelled with the victory of the third set 6-3 and a knife duel won in the decisive game in the fourth. On his way, the Italian gave little hope to Rublev in the fifth round, to win in 3:42 min.
Sonego will face in the round of 16 another Russian, Karen Khachanov, winner of the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.
