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Victor Petkov
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Arnaldi produced first big blow in French Open, eliminating Rublev
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The Italian player saved a set point before winning 3-0

Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi delivered a remarkable performance to defeat sixth seed Andrey Rublev and advance to the last 16 of the French Open on Friday. The 23-year-old Arnaldi saved a set point in the opening set and proceeded to dominate his emotionally charged opponent, securing a 7-6(8) 6-2 6-4 victory.

This win equals his best Grand Slam performance, having reached the fourth round of last year’s U.S. Open as well.

Russian Rublev struggled to maintain his composure as the match slipped away, displaying visible frustration by thumping his racket into his legs and kicking his courtside bench. Rublev, who has reached 10 Grand Slam quarter-finals without progressing further, found no solution to Arnaldi’s consistent accuracy and power.

Arnaldi, solid throughout the match, barely put a foot wrong, marking one of the biggest wins of his career. Rublev’s defeat makes him the highest-seeded player to exit the men’s draw thus far. Arnaldi will face either Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas or China’s Zhang Zhizhen in the next round for a place in the quarter-finals.

The first set was tightly contested, with neither player giving an inch. In the tiebreak, Arnaldi led 5-3 before Rublev rallied to win the next three points. However, Rublev failed to convert his set point, and Arnaldi capitalized, sprinting from behind the baseline to reach a drop shot and angle a stunning winner past the Russian.

In the second set, service breaks were exchanged early, but Rublev’s frustration grew as his forehand failed to penetrate Arnaldi’s defenses. Arnaldi, finding the damp court conditions more favorable, increased the pressure with penetrating shots, causing Rublev to buckle under the emotional strain.

Arnaldi broke for a 4-3 lead in the third set and completed his first Grand Slam victory against a top-10 player. This impressive win sets the stage for an exciting match in the next round, as Arnaldi continues his strong run in the tournament.