On Wednesday at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, three players will have an opportunity to clinch a place in the semi-finals with one match to spare.

Jiri Lehecka is the only man to hold his fate in his own hands on Day 2, as a win against Brandon Nakashima in three or four sets would see him through. Nakashima and Lorenzo Musetti could also book their tickets to the semis with wins, but both would need help from other results.

Here’s what to watch as the action continues at the Allianz Cloud in Milan.

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[4] Brandon Nakashima (USA) vs. [5] Jiri Lehecka (CZE)

Nakashima and Lehecka, both 21, earned contrasting wins against Italian opposition on Day 1. The American needed five sets and more than two hours to edge Matteo Arnaldi, while Lehecka dismissed Francesco Passaro in straight sets. The Czech’s dominant victory earned him the top position in the Green Group, while Nakashima sits second.

The winner of their Day 2 meeting — the first ATP Head2Head matchup between the pair — will stand alone as the group’s one remaining undefeated player.

Nakashima is seeking to return to the Milan semi-finals in his second appearance at the event, while Lehecka looks to stay undefeated in his debut. The Czech will be playing for his 12th tour-level victory; he earned his first ATP Tour wins in February in a breakout run to the Rotterdam semi-finals as a qualifier at the ATP 500.

While a Lehecka victory in three or four sets would secure the Czech’s position in the semis, Nakashima would need a win coupled with a victory by Arnaldi to be assured of a spot in the knockout rounds by day’s end. If Passaro defeats Arnaldi in Wednesday’s opening match, any manner of victory for Lehecka would see him advance on the spot.

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[8] Francesco Passaro (ITA) vs. [9] Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)

This all-Italian matchup of Milan debutants will be a high-stakes affair, with the loser facing a major uphill battle to qualify for the semi-finals from 0-2. Passaro, who earned his first ATP Tour win earlier this season in Florence, will hope to earn another victory on home soil against his countryman.

Arnaldi fell just short of his first tour-level win on Day 1 against Nakashima, failing to convert on multiple set points to secure a two-set lead against the American before losing in five. But despite being the last man into the Milan field, the 21-year-old showed he belonged and gave the Italian crowd plenty to cheer about with his electric shotmaking.

The 21-year-olds have met once before on the ATP Challenger Tour, also in Italy, with Arnaldi earning a straight-sets win in March in Roseto Degli Abruzzi.

[2] Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs. [7] Dominic Stricker (SUI)

World No. 23 Musetti is the highest-ranked man in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings competing in Milan. Add in his home-court advantage and red-hot form and it’s clear why the Italian is among the favourites to lift the title on Saturday.

After winning his second ATP Tour title in Naples in October and upsetting Casper Ruud to reach the Paris quarter-finals last week, he opened his second Milan appearance with a straight-sets win against Chun-Hsin Tseng. Musetti would clinch a spot in the semis if he and Tseng both win on Tuesday. He could also advance with a Jack Draper win, though the scenarios are more complicated. (Read the full semi-final qualification scenarios.)

Dominic Stricker, who won three tie-breaks to defeat third seed Draper at the close of Day 1, will seek to complete an upset double against Musetti. A win would give him victories against the two highest-ranked players in the Milan draw.

[3] Jack Draper (GBR) vs. [6] Chun-Hsin Tseng (TPE)

Draper and Tseng will both seek bounce-back wins in  a rematch of the 2018 Wimbledon junior singles final, won in three sets by Tseng. While both men flashed their brilliance for stretches on Tuesday, neither could claim a set on Day 1. Draper suffered a hard-luck loss against Stricker, while Tseng won just six games against second seed Musetti.

While there are no home favourites in this evening-session opener, Draper has enjoyed strong results in Italy this season, posting a 16-2 Challenger record and claiming three indoor titles in the European nation.

Tseng hopes to represent Asia well in Milan as the second man from the continent to compete at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, joining 2017 champion Hyeon Chung.

Dominic Stricker earned a statement win at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals Tuesday when he defeated third seed Jack Draper 4-3(5), 4-3(5), 4-3(5) in his opening Red Group match.

The 20-year-old produced an impressive serving performance inside the Allianz Cloud, swinging his lefty serve out wide to pin Draper deep. Stricker fired 14 aces, showed good touch around the net and held his nerve in the crucial moments to triumph after 88 minutes.

Stricker is making his debut in Milan this week. However, he took little time adjusting to the innovations and rules in place at the 21-and-under event, including the first-to-four, best-of-five set format and one sit-down per set.

Stricker, who squandered four match points on Draper’s serve at 2-3 in the third set, now holds a 1-0 record in Red Group. He will play Lorenzo Musetti, also a victor on Day 1, in his second match on Wednesday. Draper will look to get off the mark when he faces Chun-Hsin Tseng.

Earlier this season, the World No. 111 Stricker clinched two ATP Challenger Tour titles and earned four Top 40 wins. Stricker opened his shoulders throughout the clash against Draper, dictating points with his fearsome forehand. 

Draper started the year at No. 265 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings but arrived in Milan at a career-high No. 41. The 20-year-old reached the quarter-finals at an ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal, before he upset Felix Auger-Aliassime en route to the third round at the US Open.

Did You Know?
Stricker is the first player to win three consecutive tie-breaks in the history of the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals.

Francesco Passaro started the season outside the Top 600 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Eleven months on and the Italian arrives at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals at a career-high No. 119.

The 21-year-old is one of three Italians competing at the event and will be aiming to impress on home soil in Milan. Passaro spoke to ATPTour.com ahead of his second Green Group match, sharing his interests and aims.

If you weren’t a tennis player, what job would you want and why?
A football player. When I was younger, I played football and [wanted to be] a professional or to be a manager in sports.

If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be and why?
Roger [Federer] Because he is my idol. I mean, he is the god of tennis. Lionel Messi, because of what he’s done. The third [would be] an actor. To have a different kind of conversation.

Describe your perfect day if you are not playing tennis?
I would be with my family, with my girlfriend and with my friends. I like to watch a TV series, so would watch Peaky Blinders. I would have some dinner out. Maybe go and have a walk. I like also to go shopping in the city. I like fashion.

Who has had the greatest impact on your life and why?
My family and my coach. This year a lot of things have changed now. At the beginning of the year, I was 600 in the world. Now I’m 119. It’s a big change. It is good to have their support.

What is the most interesting thing you have ever got to do in your life?
I had the chance to meet a lot of great people. When I was younger I played football. Doing the things of every younger guy. Also playing video games.

Brandon Nakashima survived a five-set thriller against Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi to earn an opening win on Tuesday in his return to the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals. In a battle of 21-year-olds in Milan, the American saved five set points to avoid going two sets down before prevailing 2-4, 4-3(7), 4-3(4), 3-4(4), 4-2.

In a back-and-forth contest in the Green Group, Nakashima let slip a 3-1 lead in the fourth set but regrouped to claim the fifth, closing out the victory in two hours and 10 minutes.

“It kind of took me a little while to get used to the new format, the new conditions out here,” Nakashima said post-match. “Right from the beginning it was a lot of critical points, the sets were going by fast, so I just tried to adapt as quick as possible. The tie-breaks, I was kind of lucky to squeeze them out and today I think it was just all about finding a way out here. He’s a super tough opponent, he was playing really well, and it was just some critical points in the end that helped me get over the line.”

A semi-finalist last year at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, Nakashima joins Lorenzo Musetti in bidding to become the first player to win the Milan title in his second appearance. The American peaked at No. 43 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings last month after winning his first ATP Tour title in his home city of San Diego.

It was Arnaldi — a native of Sanremo — who had the home advantage in Milan.

“It was tough,” Nakashima said of facing an opponent backed by the Italian crowd. “Either way, whoever the crowd’s cheering for, it’s always fun to play in front of them. The Italian fans, they get very electric during these events. I’m happy to be back here and play in front of them. It’s super exciting.”

While Arnaldi was the last man into the Milan field, the Italian proved he belonged with an aggressive display against Nakashima. There was no shortage of highlights from the classy Italian, particularly in the early stages as he made a bright start in search of his first tour-level win. Entering the showcase event at a career-high of No. 138 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Arnaldi’s only previous tour-level match came in Rome earlier this season.

Both Nakashima and Arnaldi entertained the Milan crowd with aggressive tennis, combining for 69 winners (Arnaldi 36, Nakashima 33). Only two points separated the competitors overall, with Nakashima winning 98 to Arnaldi’s 96.

The American’s victory takes him to second in the Green Group, with Arnaldi now in third place following the narrow defeat. Nakashima will next face group-leader Jiri Lehecka on Wedneday, while Arnaldi meets fellow Italian Francesco Passaro.

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The Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals spotlights the best 21-and-under tennis players in the world. Popular 35-year-old Italian Fabio Fognini might be more than a decade removed from that classification, but he was thrilled to be at the Allianz Cloud on Tuesday with wife, WTA legend Flavia Pennetta.

“It’s nice. Milan, it’s a really beautiful city,” Fognini said. “For the tennis, especially because we are in Italy, it’s really important for us to have these kind of [Italian] guys who are on the top of the world [playing].”

🇮🇹 @fabiofogna supporting @Lorenzo1Musetti 👍@intesasanpaolo #NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/eRHsO2WHba

— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) November 8, 2022

There are three Italians in the field: Lorenzo Musetti, Francesco Passaro and Matteo Arnaldi. Another Italian, Jannik Sinner, won the 2019 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals. Fognini watched countryman Lorenzo Musetti from courtside Tuesday.

“It’s always nice. I always say that the more we are, the better it is,” Fognini said. “There are three Italians, Lorenzo [Musetti], [Francesco] Passaro and Matteo [Arnaldi]. It’s really important for us.”

Fognini added that it is key not just to have successful Italian players, but prestigious tournaments in the country to continue encouraging juniors to pick up the sport.

“It’s quite important to have these kind of events because of course you have a chance [for] young guys to play,” Fognini said. “But at the same time [you have] young guys who are on top of the world and they play really well. It’s really, really nice and of course my opinion it’s fantastic. It’s a great event.”

Jiri Lehecka celebrated his 21st birthday in style at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals Tuesday when he cruised past Francesco Passaro 4-1, 4-3(7), 4-1 to move to 1-0 in Green Group.

The Czech is making his debut in Milan and made a strong opening statement at the 21-and-under event, quickly adapting to the first-to-four, best-of five set format to triumph after 67 minutes.

“I have never played a match in this format before,” Lehecka said. “In the beginning I was getting used to it a little bit. I think I adapted well. We have used this format in practise and I got used to it pretty fast and it was fun.”

Lehecka pulled Passaro around the court with his consistent groundstrokes, firing 18 winners and breaking serve three times. With just 15 seconds between points following aces or missed returns, he also raced through his service games to earn victory.

The World No. 74 has enjoyed an impressive season. He reached the semi-finals as a qualifier in Rotterdam in February, before he clinched an ATP Challenger Tour crown in August.

Lehecka will also play American Brandon Nakashima and Matteo Arnaldi during the round-robin stage in Milan. Nakashima will face Arnaldi on Tuesday evening in Green Group.

Passaro held a 29-15 record on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2022, lifting a trophy in Trieste.