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June 1st 2026 is an almost historic day for Italian tennis. In fact, at Roland Garros, there are three Italians competing in the round of 16 of the men’s singles: Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi. A fact that confirms the depth of the Italian movement even in an edition marked by the absence of Lorenzo Musetti and the elimination of Jannik Sinner.
A trio that was missing from 2023
For the seventh time, Italy brings three players to the round of 16 at Roland Garros. The last one was in 2023, when Sinner, Musetti and Sonego reached the second week. This time the baton passes to three different paths, but united by the ability to resist the pressure of a Slam that has become particularly open after several excellent eliminations.
Cobolli, seeded number 10, reached the round of 16 with a very solid performance against the American Learner Tien, beaten 6-2 6-2 6-3 in an hour and 46 minutes. For the Roman, this is the first second week of his career in Paris and the next obstacle will be another American, Zachary Svajda, surprise of the tournament and opponent not to be underestimated.
Berrettini and Arnaldi, two marathons won in fifth place
Matteo Berrettini’s path instead had the face of suffering and resistance. The Roman overcame the Argentine Francisco Comesana at the end of the longest match of his career: 7-6(3) 5-7 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(10), after five hours and 8 minutes. A heavy victory, not only for the result, but also for the physical and mental signal offered by a player who in recent years has had to deal with numerous continuity problems.
In the round of 16 Berrettini will find Juan Manuel Cerundolo, the Argentine who eliminated Jannik Sinner in the previous round. A delicate challenge, also because both come from very long battles and will have to manage energy and recovery in a phase of the tournament in which every detail can weigh.
Matteo Arnaldi also had to go all the way to the fifth set to get through to the round. The Ligurian beat the Belgian Raphael Collignon with a score of 6-4 6-7 5-7 6-4 7-6, at the end of a battle that lasted about five hours. For Arnaldi it is the return to the round of 16 of Roland Garros after two years, confirming a special relationship with the land of Paris.
Three challenges to keep dreaming
The program for the round of 16 therefore presents Italy with three very interesting crossroads. Cobolli will face Svajda on Philippe-Chatrier, Berrettini will face Cerundolo on Suzanne-Lenglen, while Arnaldi will challenge Frances Tiafoe, seeded number 19, also on Suzanne-Lenglen.
The goal of the quarter-finals is within reach, but not a given. Cobolli arrives with the lightness of someone who dominated the third round, Berrettini with the experience and weight of a very tough victory, Arnaldi with the confidence of someone who knew how to stay in a complicated match until the last point. Three different stories, all within the same day: the one in which Italian tennis tries to further expand its space in the heart of Roland Garros.
Derby on the horizon?
The three blues travel on the same side of the board. In the event of a victory for the Italian trio, there will be a quarter-final derby between Berrettini and Arnaldi, with the prospect of an all-Italian match also in the semi-final, should Cobolli also win his match on Wednesday