French Open: Lucky loser Marco Trungelliti hits jackpot after marathon journey

By Ravi Ubha, CNN
Updated 10:30 AM EDT, Tue May 29, 2018
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Story highlights

Lucky loser Marco Trungelliti beats Bernard Tomic at French Open

Argentine drove 10 hours Sunday to return to Paris after qualifying exit

Novak Djokovic, Petra Kvitova win, but Victoria Azarenka, Stan Wawrinka lose

Rafael Nadal led by two sets before rain stopped play

CNN  — 

Given the thousands of professional tennis players, it’s only a tiny minority of 128 men and women who make the main draw of a grand slam.

Indeed, for the majority of the 1,977 who are ranked overall in the three tiers of men’s professional tennis, it is not about winning a grand slam title but simply being in the hat. First-round prize money can cover expenses for a while on the 11-month tennis tour.

Which is why Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti was willing to go to great lengths to make the French Open. And now he is into the second round to boot.

READ: Who can stop Nadal?

Trungelliti has only played 16 matches at the highest level – as opposed to 434 in tennis’ minor leagues. So when the 28-year-old learned he had a chance to reach the promised land of a major, he wasn’t going to bypass the opportunity despite a long trek.

Rafael Nadal won his record-extending 11th title at the French Open when he beat Dominic Thiem on Sunday in Paris.
Rafael Nadal won his record-extending 11th title at the French Open when he beat Dominic Thiem on Sunday in Paris.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images
The Spaniard won his first French Open on his debut as a 19-year-old at Roland Garros and has only lost two matches since then.
The Spaniard won his first French Open on his debut as a 19-year-old at Roland Garros and has only lost two matches since then.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images
Simona Halep beat Sloane Stephens in three sets Saturday to win the French Open and her first major after losing three grand slam finals.
Simona Halep beat Sloane Stephens in three sets Saturday to win the French Open and her first major after losing three grand slam finals.
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Halep finally got her name on the trophy, 10 years after winning the junior title at Roland Garros.
Halep finally got her name on the trophy, 10 years after winning the junior title at Roland Garros.
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Nadal had kept alive his bid for an unprecedented 11th French Open title with a dominant semifinal win over Juan Martin del Potro in Paris.
Nadal had kept alive his bid for an unprecedented 11th French Open title with a dominant semifinal win over Juan Martin del Potro in Paris.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images
Austria's Dominic Thiem is the pretender to Rafael Nadal's claycourt throne after booking a place in his first French Open final with victory against Marco Cecchinato.
Austria's Dominic Thiem is the pretender to Rafael Nadal's claycourt throne after booking a place in his first French Open final with victory against Marco Cecchinato.
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Nadal was rattled for a set and a half against Argentine Diego Schwartzman but he took advantage of an overnight rain delay and returned with renewed vigor to win in four sets to reach the semifinals.
Nadal was rattled for a set and a half against Argentine Diego Schwartzman but he took advantage of an overnight rain delay and returned with renewed vigor to win in four sets to reach the semifinals.
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Schwartzman ended Nadal's 37-set winning streak at Roland Garros after taking the opener, but rain delayed their quarterfinal overnight and he went down in four sets to the resurgent Spaniard.
Schwartzman ended Nadal's 37-set winning streak at Roland Garros after taking the opener, but rain delayed their quarterfinal overnight and he went down in four sets to the resurgent Spaniard.
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Halep had reached her second consecutive French Open final with a straight sets win over Garbine Murguruza of Spain. Halep retained her world No.1 spot as she bids for a first grand slam title.
Halep had reached her second consecutive French Open final with a straight sets win over Garbine Murguruza of Spain. Halep retained her world No.1 spot as she bids for a first grand slam title.
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Reigning US Open champion Stephens (right) beat fellow American Madison Keys to reach her first French Open final.
Reigning US Open champion Stephens (right) beat fellow American Madison Keys to reach her first French Open final.
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