![\"Andrea](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Andrea-Pellegrino-Italian-Open-6913940.jpg\" "\\"Andrea")
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Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino is through to the last 16 in Rome (Image: Tennis TV)<\/p>\n
Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino has caused one of the biggest upsets of the Italian Open so far, taking out 20th seed Frances Tiafoe 7-6(8) 6-1. to reach the fourth round. The world No. 155 came through qualifying to make his main-draw debut at Masters 1000 level, and is now through to the last 16.<\/p>\n
Pellegrino has now more than doubled his prize money earnings for 2026. So far this year, he had banked \u00a372,470 ($98,632). And he is guaranteed a \u00a379,993 (\u20ac92,470) prize cheque for reaching the fourth round in Rome.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old qualifier is also expected to return to the world\u2019s top 130, closing in on his career-high ranking of No. 125. Pellegrino beat countryman Luca Nardi on his Masters 1000 main draw debut, and then faced 15th seed and recent Barcelona Open champion Arthur Fils<\/a> in round two.<\/p>\n But Fils had to retire while trailing Pellegrino 0-4 in the opening set<\/a>, later explaining that he felt something in his hip and didn\u2019t want to take any risks with the French Open looming. It allowed the world No. 155 to progress to the third round \u2013 and he\u2019s made the most of it.<\/p>\n Pellegrino started strong when he broke Tiafoe twice to lead 4-0, but the American came storming back. The qualifier couldn\u2019t convert two set points when Tiafoe served at 3-5, and they went to a tiebreak.<\/p>\n Set points came and went for both players, but it was the home hope who eventually took the tiebreak 10-8. He carried that momentum straight into set two and only lose one more game, breaking twice more before sending himself into the last 16.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old dropped to the ground in disbelief, before Tiafoe came around to hug Pellegrino and congratulate him on his victory. This is the second-biggest win of Pellegrino\u2019s career \u2013 he beat then-No. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime at a Challenger last summer \u2013 but no doubt one of the most emotional.<\/p>\n Andrea Pellegrino stunned 20th seed Frances Tiafoe at the Italian Open (Image: Tennis TV)<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing. I didn\u2019t expect, when I came here, at the beginning of the tournament, I didn\u2019t expect to reach these kinds of rounds, but I\u2019m very happy about my game. I played five matches and really good level, so I\u2019m so happy,\u201d Pellegrino said immediately after reaching the fourth round on his Masters debut.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I come from a tough period, I got injured on my back last month, I didn\u2019t play a few tournaments. I missed Monte Carlo, these tournaments, and to be here in Rome, it\u2019s really special for me and reach fourth round in main draw, it\u2019s something special.<\/p>\n \u201cI started very well. At the beginning, I was playing very good. He wasn\u2019t, I think, but then I started to think about\u2026 I was up and I became a bit tight, and his level goes up, and the match was not easy because of the wind, also. The conditions were not easy, but I was there every point, fighting every point, and I\u2019m very happy about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Pellegrino could now play the biggest match of his career, as he awaits the winner of a clash between world No. 1 Jannik Sinner<\/a> and Alexei Popyrin. If it is countryman Sinner, it won\u2019t be their first meeting. The four-time Major champion beat Pellegrino 6-1 6-1 in a Futures final in 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah, of course I remember that. I think I won two or three games in the final!\u201d the qualifier grinned. \u201cHe has to play, I think, no? So if I\u2019m going to play with him, it\u2019s going to be, of course, a really good match, good experience for me. Maybe we play on Centre, where I never played, but I\u2019m very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n EXPRESS SPORT ON FB!<\/strong> Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Stay up-to-date with the latest Tennis news <\/strong> Join us on WhatsApp<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Frances](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Frances-Tiafoe-Andrea-Pellegrino-Italian-Open-6913973.jpg\" "\\"Frances")
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