SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) (ITALPRESS) – Two singles matches were enough for Italy to beat Switzerland in its debut in Group D of the United Cup, a mixed-team event underway between Perth and Sydney. On the fast court of Sydney’s “Ken Rosewall Arena,” Flavio Cobolli broke the ice in the best possible way: the Roman, No. 32 ATP, beat Dominic Stricker, 300th in the world rankings, 6-3 7-6(2) in an hour and a half of play. “Of course I think I played a very good match,” Cobolli said, “It’s always a nice thing to play with the flag of Italy on your heart, with your teammates and my father cheering on the bench. It’s fun and I did great things for us today.” It was Jasmine Paolini’s turn to give the Azzurri the winning point, thus avoiding mixed doubles. The 28-year-old tennis player from Tuscany, No. 4 Wta, got rid of Belinda Bencic, who has been absent for almost a year after giving birth to her firstborn and dropped to No. 487 in the world rankings, with a 6-1 doubles win in less than an hour of play. “I played a good match and it is good to have Belinda back on the circuit, she is a great player who has beaten me several times, but today everything worked in the right world: I served and responded well, and I felt good on the court,” Paolini’s warm words. On Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 00:30 Italian time, the tricolor team will take on France: with a success the Azzurri would center the quarterfinals.- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
