Italian Open 2025 Day 3 Recap – Perfect Tennis

Day 3 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2025 brought the seeds out to play at the Foro Italico, with Carlos Alcaraz storming back from injury to dominate, Zverev cruising, Holger Rune gutting out a three-hour war, and Jack Draper shutting down Darderi’s hopes.

Local hero Francesco Passaro pulled off a big upset by defeating Dimitrov, while guys like Vit Kopriva and Vilius Gaubas proved qualifiers can shake things up with wins against Baez and Shapovalov, respectively.

Full results and recap below.

Day Three Italian Open 2024 Round of 64 Results

Winner
Loser
Scoreline

Jack Draper (5)
Luciano Darderi
6-1 6-4

Vit Koprova (Q)
Sebastian Baez (32)
3-6 6-4 6-4

Corentin Moutet
Ugo Humbert (21)
6-3 4-0 RET

Francisco Comesana
Holger Rune (9)
3-6 6-3 6-4

Franceso Passaro (WC)
Grigor Dimitrov (14)
7-5 6-3

Karen Kachacnov (23)
Roman Andres Burruchaga (Q)
6-4 5-7 6-1

Laslo Djere
Alex Michelsen
6-0 6-3

Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Dusan Lajovic (Q)
6-3 6-3

Lorenzo Musetti (8)
Otto Virtanen (Q)
6-3 6-2

Brandon Nakashima (28)
Jordan Thompson
Walkover (Back)

Alexei Popyrin (24)
Carlos Taberner (Q)
6-1 7-6(4)

Daniil Medvedev (10)
Cameron Norrie (LL)
6-4 6-2

Arthur Fils (13)
Tallon Griekspoor
6-2 6-2

Stefanos Tstisipas (18)
Alexandre Muller
6-2 7-6(3)

Vilius Gaubas (Q)
Denis Shapovalov (27)
6-3 6-4

Alexander Zverev (2)
Camilo Ugo Carabelli
6-2 6-1

Alcaraz Starts Strong

Carlos Alcaraz marked his return from injury with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 win over Dusan Lajovic on Friday, securing his Tour-leading 25th victory of 2025.

The Spaniard was sidelined in Madrid due to an adductor issue, but despite having his thigh strapped, he moved confidently on Campo Centrale and always had too much for Lajovic. He landed 20 winners in 82 minutes, and the Serbian hasn’t won a seat in any of their five meetings.

The body is feeling great. I moved well and made a few good sprints today without any pain and that is great. It was a test for me and I think I passed the test. I tried to feel more comfortable on the court. Moving and not thinking about the injury. Alcaraz on his first match back.

Match Stats

 
Dusan Lajovic
Carlos Alcaraz

Winners
13
24

Unforced Errors
23
24

Aces
3
3

Double Faults
1
2

1st Serve %
61% (41/67)
71% (36/51)

1st Serve Points Won
59% (24/41)
72% (26/36)

2nd Serve Points Won
46% (12/26)
60% (9/15)

Break Points Saved
60% (6/10)
50% (1/2)

Service Games
56% (5/9)
89% (8/9)

1st Return Points Won
28% (10/36)
41% (17/41)

2nd Return Points Won
40% (6/15)
54% (14/26)

Break Points Won
50% (1/2)
40% (4/10)

Return Games
11% (1/9)
44% (4/9)

Pressure Points
58% (7/12)
42% (5/”12)

Service Points
54% (36/67)
69% (35/51)

Return Points
31% (16/51)
46% (31/67)

Net Points
75% (3/4)
67% (6/9)

Total Points
44% (52/118)
56% (66/118)

Match Points Saved
1
0

Max Points In A Row
4
6

Total Games
33% (6/18)
67% (12/18)

Max Games In A Row
2
4

Rune Rallies Past Comesana

Holger Rune defeated Francisco Comesana in a gruelling three-set match, with a final score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The match lasted just under three hours, and Rune overcame a challenging day at the office to set up a clash with Corentin Moutet.

Comesana took the first set and despite dropping the second, led by a break in the third, only to see the Dane win six of the last eight games to progress.

Rune, who’s had some injuries of late, faced intense pressure. He saved 18 of 20 break points, including a marathon 20-minute service game in which he fended off seven break points to avoid falling further behind.

Before tonight, he’d only saved 53.3% of break points this season, which is weak for a guy near the top of the men’s game, but today’s 90% certainly bumps up the average.

Despite committing 59 unforced errors and expressing frustration with the court conditions, the former finalist has those days where he’s ultra resilient, and today was one of them.

Match Stats

 
Francisco Comesana
Holger Rune

Winners
32
44

Unforced Errors
40
59

Aces
4
3

Double Faults
4
2

1st Serve %
61% (59/96)
68% (93/136)

1st Serve Points Won
68% (40/59)
63% (59/93)

2nd Serve Points Won
51% (19/37)
49% (21/43)

Break Points Saved
70% (7/10)
90% (18/20)

Service Games
79% (11/14)
86% (12/14)

1st Return Points Won
37% (34/93)
32% (19/59)

2nd Return Points Won
51% (22/43)
49% (18/37)

Break Points Won
10% (2/20)
30% (3/10)

Return Games
14% (2/14)
21% (3/14)

Pressure Points
30% (9/30)
70% (21/30)

Service Points
61% (59/96)
59% (80/136)

Return Points
41% (56/136)
39% (37/96)

Net Points
76% (19/25)
75% (21/28)

Total Points
50% (115/232)
50% (117/232)

Match Points Saved
0
 

Max Points In A Row
6
11

Total Games
46% (13/28)
54% (15/28)

Max Games In A Row
3
3

Other Matches of Note

Lorenzo Musetti continued his stellar clay-court form, dispatching qualifier Otto Virtanen 6-3, 6-2 in 86 minutes.

The World No. 9, boasting an 18-4 record on clay since his Olympic bronze in Paris, showcased his trademark passing shots to thrill the Italian crowd.

A Monte-Carlo finalist and Madrid semi-finalist this season, Musetti faces American Brandon Nakashima next as he seeks to maintain his momentum at the clay-court Masters 1000 events.

Italian wild card Francesco Passaro delivered a statement win, defeating Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 6-3 to remain unbeaten (4-0) against Top 30 opponents.

I felt this would be an upset, and the 24-year-old rallied from a break down in the first set and dominated behind his first serve, winning 83% of points.

Karen Khachanov awaits in the next round, with the home crowd firmly behind Passaro’s breakout campaign.

Arthur Fils advanced to the third round with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 rout of Tallon Griekspoor, an impressive win considering the Dutchman’s super solid serve.

Fils now faces Stefanos Tsitsipas, who overcame Alexandre Muller 6-2, 7-6(3). Tsitsipas, a quarter-finalist in five of his last seven Rome appearances, has switched back to his Wilson Blade after a brief trial of a Babolat frame. Will he return to his clay-court best?

2023 champion Daniil Medvedev opened his Rome campaign with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over lucky loser Cameron Norrie. The precise and composed Russian will meet Alexei Popyrin after the Australian edged Carlos Taberner 6-1, 7-6(4). 

Later in the day, Jack Draper delivered a commanding performance to pipe down the home crowd on Friday, launching his Internazionali BNL d’Italia campaign with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over local favourite Luciano Darderi.

I was unsure if Draper would back up his run in Madrid, but he stormed through the first set in just 24 minutes, breaking Darderi’s serve three times and outhitting him with 12 winners to one.

The second set was closer, but Draper is dangerous with a lead, and he saved all six break points he faced to secure the win in straight sets.

Next up for the fifth seed is Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva, who upset 32nd seed Sebastian Baez 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Highlights

Italian Open 2025 Day 4 Round of 64 Matches