United Cup, Cobolli defeated by Rinderknech, Italy eliminated

Milan, Jan. 6 (LaPresse) – Italy has been eliminated from the United Cup tennis tournament, the first official event of the 2026 season, currently underway in Australia. The Azzurri, who were defeated by Switzerland in their first Group C match in Perth, needed to win 3-0 against France, conceding no more than one set, to qualify for the quarterfinals as the best second-placed team. But the Azzurri’s hopes ended with Flavio Cobolli’s defeat in the first match of the day against Arthur Rinderknech: 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in favor of the Frenchman in 3 hours and 22 minutes of play. Jasmine Paolini’s two-set victory in the women’s singles against Leolia Jeanjean (6-2, 6-3 in 1 hour and 23 minutes) was therefore in vain. The mixed doubles match is currently underway, with Italy’s Errani-Vavassori taking on France’s Rajaonah/Roger Vasselin to avoid finishing bottom of the group.