Rome, May 8 (LaPresse) – Matteo Arnaldi’s run at the Internazionali d’Italia ended in the first round. The Italian player, ranked No. 39 in the world, was defeated in straight sets by 37-year-old Roberto Bautista Agut (ranked 56th in the ATP rankings) with a score of 6-4, 6-3. The turning point in the first set came in the sixth game, when Bautista Agut broke serve with a tough winning forehand drop shot. Although Arnaldi managed a break back for 4-5, he immediately lost serve again and the Spaniard closed the set 6-4. In the second set, Bautista Agut quickly took control with breaks in the second and sixth games. Arnaldi saved two match points and responded with a break of his own before falling 6-3. Arnaldi was aiming to become the eighth man born in 2000 or later to reach 25 wins in ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. Bautista Agut, playing his 700th career tour-level match (422–278), is making his eighth main draw appearance in Rome, 11 years after debuting in 2014. In the second round, the Spaniard will face American Tommy Paul, seeded No. 11.
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