Italy's men delivered a commanding performance at Wimbledon as three azzurri reached the third round on the grass of the All England Club, but the women's draw offered a harsh reality check for the nation's youngest hopeful. The second-round results paint a picture of Italian tennis that is strong on experience but still building depth among its emerging female talent.
Why This Matters
• Berrettini, Cobolli, and Sonego advance: All three Italian men won their second-round matches, setting up potential deep runs in the tournament.
• Grant's Grand Slam debut ends early: The 18-year-old lost 7-5, 6-3 to Czech 21st seed Marie Bouzkova after a promising first-round upset.
• Sonego faces Fritz next: The Turin native will meet the American 7th seed in what promises to be a grueling third-round clash.
Three Italian Men Through, One Young Woman Out
The Italian Tennis Federation has reason to celebrate a strong showing from its male contingent at Wimbledon, but the women's side remains a work in progress. While Matteo Berrettini, Flavio Cobolli, and Lorenzo Sonego all punched their tickets to the third round, the tournament debut of Tyra Caterina Grant came to an abrupt halt.
Grant, the Rome-born 18-year-old, had captured attention by defeating British No. 2 Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-2 in the first round—her maiden Grand Slam main-draw victory. But the Czech Marie Bouzkova, ranked 21st in the seedings, proved too experienced and consistent, dispatching Grant in straight sets. The scoreline of 7-5, 6-3 reflected a match in which the Italian teenager showed flashes of promise but lacked the tactical maturity to close out tight moments.
Grant's journey to the main draw was impressive in its own right: she navigated three rounds of qualifying to earn her Wimbledon berth. A former girls' competitor at Wimbledon, Grant is part of Italy's next generation, but her second-round exit underscores the steep learning curve facing young players breaking into the elite level.
Berrettini's Grass Mastery on Full Display
Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, continues to remind the tennis world why grass remains his most natural surface. Playing on Centre Court, Berrettini dismantled French 20th seed Arthur Fils in four sets: 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. The Italian's serve, his most dangerous weapon, was firing on all cylinders, and he showed the composure and court craft that carried him to the final five years ago.
Berrettini's win sets up a third-round encounter with either Czech Jakub Mensik or Bulgarian veteran Grigor Dimitrov, both of whom pose distinct challenges. Dimitrov, in particular, is a former Wimbledon semifinalist with grass-court pedigree. For Berrettini, the path forward is clear: if his serve holds and his forehand stays reliable, he is a legitimate threat to reach the second week.
Cobolli's Composure Under Pressure
Flavio Cobolli, seeded 9th at Wimbledon, overcame a nervy start to dispatch Australian James Duckworth in four sets: 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. The match was a test of resilience, with Cobolli needing to win two tiebreaks to seize control. Once he did, the Italian dominated the fourth set with strong performance.
Up next for Cobolli is Russian 19th seed Karen Khachanov, a player known for his power baseline game and ability to grind opponents down. The matchup will require Cobolli to maintain his aggression while managing Khachanov's counter-punching threat.
Sonego's Marathon Victory Sets Up Fritz Showdown
Lorenzo Sonego, ranked 69th in the ATP, emerged victorious from a grueling five-set battle against Canadian Gabriel Diallo. The match stretched beyond 4 hours and 22 minutes, with Sonego prevailing 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 6-2. The Turin native's fitness and mental fortitude were on full display, particularly in the decisive fifth set, where he dominated to seal the win.
Sonego now faces American Taylor Fritz, the 7th seed and a semifinalist at last year's US Open. Fritz advanced with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 victory over compatriot Patrick Kypson and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous grass-court players in the draw. The Italian will need to replicate his fifth-set intensity if he hopes to upset the American.
Global Stars Advance, Andreeva Stunned
Beyond the Italian contingent, the second round featured several marquee results. Iga Swiatek, seeded 5th, cruised past Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-3, showing conviction on the grass court. The Polish star will face Filipino Alexandra Eala in the third round.
American Madison Keys, seeded 22nd, advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 win over British wildcard Katie Swan. Keys is hitting form at the right time and remains a live threat in the women's draw.
Perhaps the biggest upset came in the form of Mirra Andreeva's shock elimination. The Russian, seeded 5th at Wimbledon, fell to Czech Barbora Krejcikova—the 2024 Wimbledon champion—in three sets: 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. Andreeva's early exit raises questions about her grass-court adaptability.
On the men's side, German Alexander Zverev methodically defeated French qualifier Valentin Royer 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (3), firing 14 aces and rarely facing trouble. Zverev will meet American Marcos Giron next.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka survived a tense second-round encounter with American McCartney Kessler, winning 6-1, 7-6 (11-9) after squandering a 5-2 lead in the second set. The Belarusian needed to save multiple set points in the tiebreak before clinching victory with a signature forehand winner.
What This Means for Italian Tennis
The contrasting fortunes of Italy's men and women at Wimbledon reflect the broader state of Italian tennis. The men's game is flourishing, with a deep bench of talent capable of competing on any surface.
The women's side, however, remains thinner. Grant's inexperience and early exit highlight the gap between potential and results. Grant is clearly talented, yet her Wimbledon run suggests she needs more high-level matches to refine her game under pressure.
For Italian fans, the third round promises drama: three men remain in contention, and each faces a formidable opponent. Whether any can break through to the second week will depend on maintaining the form, fitness, and tactical sharpness they displayed in the opening rounds. The grass at the All England Club has long been kind to Italian players—now it's up to Berrettini, Cobolli, and Sonego to capitalize.
