Grenier missed his (2nd) chance

This time, the Rome tournament is well and truly over for Hugo Grenier. Eliminated for the first time, Tuesday after his defeat in the second qualifying round against the German Yannick Hanfmann (6-4, 6-4), the native of Montbrison benefited from a new chance which he did not expect . Quentin Halys, who was due to compete on Thursday in the Italian capital against JJ Wolf, was indeed forced to forfeit a few hours before facing the American. In such a case, the hard blow of one benefits one of the players beaten in qualifications. And chance has made it a Frenchman, in this case Grenier, who took advantage of the misfortunes of his compatriot. It is therefore our 27-year-old representative who reached the 3rd round of the Madrid tournament two weeks ago when his place in the ATP ranking (he is now 124th) had already forced him to compete in the qualifications to have a chance. to rise in the big picture that presented itself on the court against the American ranked 54th in the world.

Grenier has nothing to be ashamed of

Unfortunately for the one who had created the sensation on the clay courts of the Spanish capital by knocking down Diego Schwartzman and Sebastian Korda in turn before coming up against a ruthless Alexander Zverev (the German had only left Grenier one game) , he was unable to gain the upper hand against the American with a mule cut who had invited himself to the last four in Dallas last February and was able to count this Thursday at Foro Italico on many supporters who came to support him. Led in both legs, the winner of the Challenger tournament in Las Franquesas del Valles, Spain, at the end of March, constantly chased after the score. He did not deserve it, but finally stopped right away despite this second chance obtained as a lucky loser. It is therefore Wolf who will face Hubert Hurkacz in the 2nd round.