Italians sink top seeds Cash/Glasspool in Peter Fleming Group

Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori channelled home support to spectacular effect on Sunday evening at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Seeking a fast start on its second consecutive appearance at the prestigious season finale in Turin, the Italian duo upset top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 7-5, 6-3 in a raucous atmosphere inside Inalpi Arena. Bolelli and Vavassori were clincal with their chances in the 82-minute encounter, during which they converted two of three break points they earned according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“Of course we are very happy,” said Bolelli. “I think today we played a really solid match. We served very good and tried to return as many balls as possible, because we know the guys are serving really good. We tried to let them play most of the time and tried to play aggressive. Just fighting. We know all these matches are really tight and the match can change with one or two points. I think in the second set we stepped up and played more aggressive.”

Now 1-0 in Peter Fleming Group, Bolelli and Vavassori have made the perfect start in their bid to reach the semi-finals at the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The pair has also increased its Lexus ATP Head2Head lead over Cash and Glasspool to 3-1.

“It’s unbelievable. I think the best atmosphere we have played in so far,” said Vavassori. “I’m very grateful to experience such things and have to say thanks to all the people who came to support us. It’s very nice for doubles in general too.”

Despite missing out on a win on their Nitto ATP Finals debut that would have simultaneously sealed Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours, Cash and Glasspool remain in a good position to end the year as the world's top team. The Britons lead second-placed Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten by 1305 points in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. Heliovaara and Patten play their Turin opener on Monday.