Passaro rallied from 1-3 in the fourth set and overcame heavy cramping to win the set in a tie-break.
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Francesco Passaro of Italy saved three match points to defeat countryman Matteo Arnaldi 4-3(7), 2-4, 3-4(4), 4-3(4), 4-3(8) at the Intesa Sanpaolo ATP Finals in Milan on Wednesday. Passaro rallied from 1-3 in the fourth set and overcame heavy cramping to win the set in a tie-break. With his movement limited, the 21-year-old rallied from a break down in the fifth set before saving three match points in the tie-break to win after two hours and 40 minutes in one of the tournament’s best matches.
“I am very tired,” Passaro said. “It was a really long match and this format I think it is tough and physical. For me it was physical today, with the tension as well, I was cramping. It was not easy. I am really happy to win and I will enjoy.”
Passaro has improved to 1-1 in the Red Group in his debut in Milan. On Thursday, he will face fourth-seeded American Brandon Nakashima in his final round-robin match. With only 15 seconds between points after aces or missed returns, both players raced through their service games, while the one sit-down per set rule resulted in a fast-paced but physically demanding match.
Passaro began the season ranked 605th in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. However, he is competing in Milan as the World No. 119 after a standout season in which he won his first ATP Challenger Tour title. On Wednesday, Nakashima will face Jiri Lehecka in the second Green Group match.
