PETE ZIEBRON in PHOENIX
The Arizona Tennis Classic continues to get bigger and better. In this 3rd edition of the tournament, the draw featured the possibility of a rematch of the 2022 Australian Open Quarterfinal between Matteo Berrettini and Gael Monfils. The Italian won that slugfest in five sets.
However, Russian Qualifier and world #132 Alexander Shevchenko had other ideas. In a match against Monfils that resumed this afternoon with Shevchenko leading 2-0 in the 3rd set, the underdog stayed the course to close out the Frenchman 6-3 in the final set to advance to the 2nd round in Phoenix.
Alexander Shevchenko catching some air in Phoenix at the Arizona Tennis Classic. Pete Ziebron Images
Berrettini held up his end of the bargain later in the afternoon. He faced fellow countryman Lucky Loser Mattia Bellucci, who took the place of Ilya Ivashka. The 2019 tournament Champion Berrettini broke at 4-all in the opening set and once more at 3-all in the second set to advance to the second round.
On Friday, Berrettini will face Qualifier Aleksander Vukic of Australia and Shevchenko will play the sixth seed, Marc-Andrea Huesler of Switzerland.
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