The Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, 30th player in the world, beat the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (17th) in Malaga on Thursday in the first match of the Davis Cup quarter-final between Argentina and Italy, forcing world No. 1 Jannik Sinner to win the second singles of the evening under penalty of elimination.
After the 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Musetti, Sinner must immediately face the Argentinian Sebastian Baez (27ᵉ) to try to maintain theItaly alive in a competition in which she is the title holder. In the event of a victory for the world No. 1, everything will be decided in a decisive double.
The winner will face SaturdayAustralia for a place in the final. The green and gold selection beat earlier in the day the UNITED STATES 2-1.
In a packed Sports Palace ignited by Italian drums and trumpets on one side, Argentinian songs and dances on the other, Musetti started the game better, breaking his opponent in his first service game (2-0).
Cerundolo immediately broke and then managed to break at 4-4, before concluding the set with a shutout (6-4).
In the second set, the Argentinian was impeccable in his service games and pounded Musetti in return, often flirting with the limits of the court. Disgusted by the solidity and sometimes insolent success of Cerundolo, Musetti lost the second round with a score significantly more severe than that of the first (6-1).
