Vavassori channels doubles grit into Adelaide singles breakthrough
A last-minute call pulls Andrea Vavassori from the gym into a stunning upset over a top-40 foe, revealing how his doubles finals have rewired his game for solo pressure on the hard courts.
Andrea Vavassori crossed the net under the Adelaide evening lights, his handshake firm after a first-round singles victory that rippled through the sparse crowd. The 30-year-old Italian had slipped into the qualifying draw as an alternate at the Adelaide International, battling through to upset No. 41 Gabriel Diallo in straight sets. Diallo’s thunderous serve and flat forehand pounded the court, but Vavassori absorbed the power with deep crosscourt returns, then pounced with inside-in forehands to flip the momentum in key games.
This wasn’t mere luck; it was the quiet payoff from a career tilted toward doubles dominance. Partnering Simone Bolelli, Vavassori has charged into the past two Nitto ATP Finals and three major men’s doubles finals, including the 2024 and 2025 Australian Opens, where packed arenas amplified every volley. Those experiences have sharpened his net instincts, now bleeding into singles where he rushes forward more boldly than the baseline pack.
“Today was a great match. it’s confidence for me because Gabriel is an unbelievable player,” Vavassori told ATPTour.com. “I saw him playing many times last year. He is one of the players that the top players don’t want to play because with his serve and forehand, he’s very dangerous.”
Last-minute scramble fuels unexpected fire
The call came sharp and sudden: 10 minutes before qualifying sign-in closed, the supervisor pulled Vavassori from his gym routine into the fray. He hadn’t packed for this shift, his preseason in Torino focused on singles drills amid a shortage of doubles partners, honing footwork that let him track Diallo‘s wide serves without overreaching. On the grippy hard courts, Vavassori mixed underspin slices to skid low and disrupt, drawing Diallo into mid-court traps where his volleys snapped clean winners.
Ranked No. 336 in singles yet No. 14 in doubles, Vavassori carries the weight of limited main-draw chances, but his 11 tour-level singles wins hint at untapped depth. He’s tangled with Carlos Alcaraz twice and Jannik Sinner once in recent years, absorbing elite pressure that now steadies him in upsets like this. The crowd’s growing hum during his break-point saves added edge, turning solo tension into a rhythmic push forward.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect it because I was practising a lot also in the gym the day before,” he said afterward, sweat still beading on his brow. “I found out last minute. The supervisor advised me 10 minutes before the end of the sign-in [period for qualifying].” That scramble only honed his focus, proving how doubles’ shared stakes prepare him for unscripted solo battles.
Doubles finals rewire pressure into poise
Vavassori’s game has evolved beyond the net; those Grand Slam finals with Bolelli taught him to thrive in tiebreak silence, skills that surfaced against Diallo’s barrage. He varied his 1–2 patterns—kick serves wide followed by low-slice approaches—to force errors, winning points at net with crisp half-volleys that echoed his doubles touch. At his 2023 peak of No. 128, he was competitive; now, he insists he’s much better, the mental wiring from big courts letting him hold serve under fire without the crutch of a partner.
“In doubles you are also handling the pressure in the big moments on big courts,” Vavassori reflected. “That helped me become a better player overall. I think I’m practising the right way. I’m understanding more my game.” His style stands out: more net forays amid the tour’s grinding rallies, using inside-out backhands to stretch opponents before closing with down-the-line passes.
The Torino native views tennis holistically, preseason sessions blending disciplines to build all-around edge. Scarce local partners force solo rallies that sharpen his heavy topspin forehand, landing deeper on Adelaide’s surface to set up aggressive transitions. This crossover isn’t dilution; it’s amplification, turning doubles glory into singles surges where pressure moments bend to his will.
Balancing dual worlds tests season’s resolve
More singles opportunities beckon, but doubles locks Vavassori into the ATP’s marquee events, creating a calendar tightrope through 2026. He craves those solo spotlights yet cherishes the partnership that elevates both, his competitive fire ignited by every court appearance. Wednesday brings a second-round clash with home favorite Aleksandar Vukic, whose all-court pop demands quick adjustments—short crosscourt angles to draw him wide, then volleys to finish.
“I practised a lot during the preseason also in singles because we don’t have so many players also to practise doubles in my hometown, and I think practicing singles helps me become a better player overall,” he explained. “it’s not about singles, doubles, mixed doubles, but it’s about becoming a better player. I’m enjoying playing tennis every time I can. I’m very competitive, so when I go on the court, I try to give my best always.” Afternoon doubles with Bolelli adds recovery strain, but the rhythm keeps him primed, crowd energy in Vukic’s corner testing his poise anew.
“I think that the best thing doubles did for me is to become a better player in pressure moments because when you play Grand Slam finals in doubles or mixed doubles, I think the pressure is there,” Vavassori added. “It’s helped me to become a better player in situations. So today, maybe two, three opportunities I played in a good way.” As Adelaide’s hard courts yield to the Australian Open horizon, this upset signals a hybrid path forward—one where doubles mastery fuels singles breakthroughs, redefining Vavassori’s 2026 arc one clutch point at a time.
