Berrettini leads Italian assault in Paris

The Brits are all gone, the hosts are struggling, but the Italians are having a ball at Roland Garros.

Matteo Berrettini became the fifth Italian male player to reach the third round yesterday after his 6-4 4-6 6-2 6-3 win over South African Lloyd Harris.

The seventh seed joined Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Sonego, Stefano Travaglia and 2018 semifinalist Marco Cecchinato in round three.

“I’m really happy. For myself and for the others,” Berrettini said.

“Let’s hope we can all continue like this.”

Teenager Clara Burel became the youngest French woman to reach the third round since Alize Cornet in 2008, when she beat Slovenian Kaja Juvan.

Cornet lost her second round tie to China’s Zhang Shuai in straight sets, but on the men’s side France still has one hope, Hugo Gaston.