This Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Gardois Benjamin Bonzi beats world number 104 and qualifies for the next round of the Australian Open.
Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, 64th player in the world, qualified for the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday by beating Italian Francesco Passaro (104th), equaling the best performance of his career in Melbourne.
Already in the 3rd round in 2023
Winner of the ATP 250 tournament in Metz in November, the 28-year-old right-hander won 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 against Passaro, beaten in qualifying but drafted into the final draw following the package of his compatriot Fabio Fognini (88th).
Bonzi reaches the third round of the Australian Open for the second time in his career, where he was dominated in 2023 by Alex De Minaur. The Frenchman will face the Czech Jiri Lehecka (29th) for a place in the round of 16, who was leading a set to zero in the second round on Wednesday when another French player, Hugo Gaston (81st), retired due to an abdominal injury.
“I always felt I was capable”
Thanks to an exceptional end to 2024, Benjamin Bonzi managed to find the thread of a catastrophic season. “I know I have a window to do something cool this season”assured the Gardois Free Midday.
“What I am most proud of is having managed to get my head above water, he says. Deep down, I still felt like I was capable of doing good things that I just needed to get back into it.”
