Comesana Stuns World Number Two Zverev in Rio Open

 Tennis - Rio Open - Jockey Club Brasileiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - February 21, 2025 Argentina's Francisco Comesana celebrates winning his quarter-final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. (Reuters)
Tennis - Rio Open - Jockey Club Brasileiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - February 21, 2025 Argentina's Francisco Comesana celebrates winning his quarter-final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. (Reuters)
TT
20

Comesana Stuns World Number Two Zverev in Rio Open

 Tennis - Rio Open - Jockey Club Brasileiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - February 21, 2025 Argentina's Francisco Comesana celebrates winning his quarter-final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. (Reuters)
Tennis - Rio Open - Jockey Club Brasileiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - February 21, 2025 Argentina's Francisco Comesana celebrates winning his quarter-final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. (Reuters)

Argentinian Francisco Comesana stunned Australian Open finalist and world number two Alexander Zverev on Friday with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win in the quarter-finals of the Rio Open, the biggest win of his career so far.

Comesana, ranked 86th in the world, turned heads in his Grand Slam debut match last year when he handed sixth seed Andrey Rublev a first-round exit from Wimbledon.

Friday's win in Rio de Janeiro is the 24-year-old's first victory over a top-five ranked opponent.

"I was repeating to myself throughout the match, 'How good it is to be alive,'" Comesana said in his post-match interview. "So, I was enjoying the entire match."

Germany's Zverev landed three aces as he won the first set, but Comesana fought back, converting two break points to win the second. Zverev struggled with his serve in the decisive set, making three double faults as Comesana took the win.

"I think it is because (of) all the hard work I have been doing to be here. I have to be grateful for this moment and I am enjoying (it)," Comesana said.

Comesana faces Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the semi-finals on Saturday.



Peace with Sinner: Tennis Fan Pope Leo XIV Meets with Top-Ranked Player During Italian Open Off-Day 

Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he plays against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina their men’s singles round of 16 match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. (EPA)
Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he plays against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina their men’s singles round of 16 match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. (EPA)
TT
20

Peace with Sinner: Tennis Fan Pope Leo XIV Meets with Top-Ranked Player During Italian Open Off-Day 

Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he plays against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina their men’s singles round of 16 match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. (EPA)
Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he plays against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina their men’s singles round of 16 match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. (EPA)

Pope Leo XIV has apparently made peace with Jannik Sinner.

The top-ranked tennis player visited the new pope on Wednesday, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play, during an off day for Sinner at the Italian Open, the Vatican said.

Leo, the first American pope, is an avid tennis player and fan and had said earlier this week that he would be up for a charity match when it was suggested by a journalist. But at the time, Leo joked “but we can’t invite Sinner,” an apparent reference to the English meaning of Sinner’s last name.

Sinner said it was “a good thing for us tennis players” that the new pope likes to play the sport.

The top-ranked player has a quarterfinal match on Thursday in his first tournament back after a three-month ban for doping that was judged to be an accidental contamination.

Sinner will next face either freshly crowned Madrid champion Casper Ruud or Jaume Munar. Sinner is attempting to become the first Italian man to win the Rome title since Adriano Panatta in 1976.