BENDIGO/STARNBERG, December 7, 2022
Salvatore Caruso from Italy has booked his spot in the semi-finals of the Bendigo International. The fifth seed of the $58,320 ATP Challenger Tour tournament benefited from the retirement of No. 3 seeded Frenchman Hugo Grenier, the highest-ranked player left in the singles draw.
Caruso was leading 4-6, 7-6(5), 4-0 when Grenier was forced to stop playing. An official reason for the retirement has not yet been issued by the ATP. The World No. 150 took a medical time-out being 3-0 down in the final set, played one game more and then retired.
French journalist Hugo Moynet posted on Twitter:
“Hugo Grenier tested positive for Covid-19 upon his arrival in Australia. He spent seven days in isolation and came out on Tuesday negative. The French quit because “exhausted” after a week without any training. No controversy.”
Hugo Grenier a été testé positif au Covid-19 à son arrivée en Australie. Il a passé sept jours en isolement et est ressorti mardi, négatif. Le Français a abandonné car “épuisé” après une semaine sans le moindre entraînement. Aucune polémique. https://t.co/JjY17MKDAs
— Quentin Moynet (@QuentinMoynet) January 7, 2022
Caruso will next take on Ernesto Escobedo, who fought past Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-7(2), 7-6(2). The No. 8 seed from the United States withstood 18 aces and broke his rival’s serve three times to secure victory in two hours and 40 minutes.
In the top half of the draw, No. 10 seed Enzo Couacaud from France emerged victorious from the battle with his compatriot and No. 4 seed Quentin Halys, winning 6-7(5), 7-6(9), 7-5 after almost three hours of play.
Up next for Couacaud will be Italian Franco Agamenone, who beat No. 11 seed Dmitry Popko from Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-2. The encounter lasted one hour and 22 minutes.
