ATP Tour wrap: Parma pushed back as Belgrade forges on
JUST the Belgrade tournament went ahead on Day 2, with the entirety of the day’s plans in Parma set aside due to persistent rain.
Two of the day’s three seeds proceeded to the second round in Serbia, with fifth seed Dusan Lajovic and eighth seed Federico Delbonis reigning supreme. Seventh seed Miomir Kecmanovic was not quite so lucky though, falling in straight sets to Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas and leaving Lajovic the only Serbian to advance to the second round, as wildcard Hamad Madjedovic also fell at the first hurdle.
Lajovic was comprehensive in victory, downing Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-3 6-3 in 80 minutes flat, winning 56 per cent of the total points in the process. While Kecmanovic tested Cuevas at times, the Uruguayan starred on serve with an 88 per cent win rate off his first serve points. Delbonis’ encounter with Slovakian lucky loser Lukas Klein went a little different though, losing the first set before working his way back into the contest.
Klein’s qualifying compatriots worked hard for their respective wins though, as Andrej Martin overcame fellow qualifier Chris O’Connell in three, utilising the Australian’s errors to reign supreme 3-6 7-6(7) 7-5 in two hours and 42 minutes. Alex Molcan joined Martin in the second round after completing his 6-4 6-3 sweep of 17-year-old Madjedovic.
The remaining two matches saw Fernando Verdasco overcome Frenchman Lucas Pouille in two, as another lucky loser in German Mats Moraing proceeds through to the second round after defeating Egor Gerasimov 4-6 7-6 7-5, and has drawn Novak Djokovic in the second round.
BELGRADE OPEN ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:
[5] Dusan Lajovic (SRB) defeated Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-3 6-3
Pablo Cuevas (URU) defeated [7] Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-3 6-2
[8] Federico Delbonis (ARG) defeated [LL] Lukas Klein (SVK) 3-6 6-3 6-4
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) defeated Lucas Pouille (FRA) 7-5 6-2
[Q] Andrej Martin (SVK) defeated [Q] Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 3-6 7-6 7-5
[Q] Alex Molcan (SVK) defeated [WC] Hamad Madjedovic (SRB) 6-4 6-3
[LL] Mats Moraing (GER) defeated Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 4-6 7-6 7-5
Picture credit: Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images
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