Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Sports155 words1 min read

Tennis Tournament Begins in Genoa With Top Italian Players

0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

A tennis tournament has started in Genoa, Italy. It is called the Memorial Angelo Messina. The tournament is part of the Challenger series. This is the Aon Open Challenger. It is the twenty-second time the event has happened. The tournament runs until Sunday.

Many players are in the tournament. Two important Italian players are Lorenzo Sonego and Andrea Pellegrino. They are part of a group of Italian players. People call this group the 'azzurra' group. This word means blue in Italian. It is used for Italian national teams.

Sonego is the top Italian player in this tournament. He leads the Italian group of players. Fans want to see him play well. The tournament is important for tennis in Italy.

Challenger tournaments are smaller than the biggest tennis events. But they are still important. Players get points and money. Young players can also become better here. Genoa is happy to host this event again.

Vocabulary3 words

tournament
a sports event with many games
Challenger
a type of tennis event, smaller than the top events
azzurra
a word for Italian sports teams; means blue

Quiz

1. Where does the tournament take place?
2. Who leads the Italian group of players?
3. When does the tournament end?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

A tennis _____ has started in Genoa, Italy. It is called the Memorial Angelo Messina. The tournament is part of the _____ series. This is the Aon Open Challenger. It is the twenty-second time the event has happened. The tournament runs until _____.

Many players are in the tournament. Two important Italian players are Lorenzo _____ and Andrea Pellegrino. They are part of a group of Italian players. People call this group the '_____' group.

Sonego is the top Italian _____ in this tournament. He leads the Italian group of players. Fans want to see him play well.

Challenger tournaments are smaller than the biggest tennis events. But they are still _____. Players get points and money.

More Sports stories