(Milan) Next Gen Finals favorite, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, and American Brandon Nakashima dominated their first matchup in the tournament bringing together the top eight young racquets on the ATP circuit.
Alcaraz took just 75 minutes to defeat Dane Holger Rune 4-3 (6), 4-2, 4-0, ending this group match with a cross volley to win the last and the last set at zero.
The 18-year-old Alcaraz has gained more than 100 places in the ATP standings this season, reaching the 32e place and the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Nakashima, for his part, took less than 90 minutes to defeat Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo 4-1, 3-4 (3), 4-1, 4-0 in his first Group A match.e World racket broke Cerundolo’s serve, 91e, four times in this meeting.
PHOTO TIZIANA FABI, AFP
Brandon nakashima
In Group B, it was more difficult for the American Sebastian Korda. The second seed had to overcome a two-set deficit against Frenchman Hugo Gaston to win 3-4 (2), 3-4 (6), 4-0, 4-3 (3), 4-0 .
Korda saved a match point with an ace to win the third set, where Gaston led 3-1.
Home favorite Lorenzo Musetti will face Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in the final Group B game.
This is the fourth edition of this tournament for those 21 and under on the ATP circuit. It was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ATP Finals will also take place in Italy, more specifically in Turin, next week.
The tournament is played in a round robin format in the group stage. The first two in the standings of each group will reach the semi-finals on Friday. The final will take place on Sunday.