In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the 17-year-old Italian tennis prodigy, Federico Cina, has made his mark in the annals of Masters 1000. Cina’s feat follows his exceptional performance at the Hersonissos 2 Challenger recently, where he reached the finals. He has now further proven his mettle at the second Masters 1000 event of the season in Miami, where he was given a wild card entry.
Cina seized the opportunity and came out victorious in a riveting match against qualifier Francisco Comesana, winning 7-6, 7-6 in a game that lasted an hour and 47 minutes. With this win, Cina etches his name in history as the first player born in 2007 to have a Masters 1000 victory to his credit. This achievement places him on an elite list of young tennis stars, including Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Frances Tiafoe, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz, who are paving the way for their generation with their Masters 1000 triumphs.
Cina’s match against Comesana was a thrilling roller-coaster ride. The young Italian initially lost his lead in the opening set and faced a set point in the 12th game. Undeterred, Cina saved the point and won the tiebreak. He then took a decisive 5-2 lead in the second set and had a match point opportunity at game eight.
Despite a strong comeback from Comesana, who managed to erase the deficit and introduce more drama into the game, Cina held his nerve. He skillfully executed three mini-breaks to clinch the top spot. Comesana gave a tough fight, delivering 33 winners and 31 unforced errors, but it was Cina’s day to shine.
Cina’s game was a masterclass in resilience and strategic execution. He overcame a baseline deficit and dominated the shorter rallies, earning more points in strokes up to four. Comesana showed his prowess in mid-range and more extended rallies, but Cina’s consistency and composure won the day.
The match began with Cina breaking in the first game, but Comesana retaliated by pulling it back in game six. Comesana then made a strong return at 6-5, only to squander a set point due to a loose forehand. This error gave Cina the opportunity to introduce a tiebreak.
As the game progressed, Cina capitalized on another forehand error from Comesana and moved 3-1 ahead, eventually winning the first set at 6-5, thanks to a service winner. Cina continued his dominance in the second set, breaking in the fourth game and serving impeccably to move 5-2 ahead.
A resilient Comesana denied a match point in game eight with a forehand winner. Despite this, and the mounting pressure, Cina kept his cool. Even after suffering a love break, he allowed his competitor to extend the match, demonstrating his steel nerves.
The decisive tiebreak saw both players serving well and trading early mini-breaks. Cina pulled ahead with a service winner, moving 3-2 up. A forehand error from Comesana in the sixth point gave Cina the advantage, further extended when Comesana hit a double fault in the seventh point.
With a 5-2 lead, Cina created four match points and converted the first with a forehand down the line winner. His joyous celebration marked a momentous occasion as he relished his first Masters 1000 victory at the tender age of 17. This historic win cements Federico Cina’s status as a rising star in the world of tennis, and it’s clear that we can expect great things from him in the future.