Duel of qualifiers

3 wins each, who will keep going?

A rather surprising matchup between two resolutely offensive players. On paper, everything is in place for a great show.

Vukic knocks out Stefanos at home after a tight match. He was slightly outplayed in the rallies, but he really shone where it matters most: handling key moments, staying cool in tie-breaks, and showing real mental maturity. The support of the Australian crowd, which he himself mentioned as a key factor, was clearly felt. He now faces the man of the week, Andrea Vavassori. The doubles specialist is having an impressive week: Collignon, Tirante, Diallo… all without dropping a single set. His style is atypical, heavily inspired by doubles, with a huge number of forays to the net. Diallo never really found a way to handle that constant pressure.

What should we make of this matchup?

First instinct: Vukic seems to have a more complete tennis arsenal and a higher tennis IQ than Diallo, with the added bonus of a better return game. These are elements that could allow him to handle the challenge posed by Vavassori more effectively.

But be careful: the Italian comes in full of confidence, with nothing to lose, and will go all out. For Vukic, beating Stefanos as an underdog is nothing like having to back it up as the clear favorite. How he handles this new status is a real question.