MILAN, June 23, 2015
The five top-seeds advanced to the second round at the tenth edition of the ATP Challenger Aspria Tennis Cup in Milan.
The tournament’s number one Benoit Paire prevailed beating José Checa-Calvo 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. The latter appeared in his first Challenger match of the season, lost his service six times and Paire converted his first match point after two hours and 13 minutes. The world number 67 from France will take on Federico Gaio next, who knocked out Mate Delic 6-1, 6-3.
Second seed Federico Delbonis defeated Christian Garin in their first tour meeting, winning 6-3, 6-4. The 24-year-old Argentine won four of his eleven break point chances to seal victory in one hour and 41 minutes taking on Gianluca Mager in the second round. The Italian wild card beat Jules Marie 6-2, 6-3.
Milan’s third favourite Blaz Kavcic celebrated his first match win since he had reached the final at the ATP Challenger in Batman in April. The 28-year-old Slovenian, who dropped in rankings to 111th position, suffered seven consecutive first round defeats, but beat Peter Torebko 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Kavcic saved all four break points he faced and prevailed after two hours and 24 minutes meeting Calvin Hemery in the next round, who took out Jordi Samper Montana 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 27 minutes.
Marco Cecchinato, number four seed, had no problems beating Nicolas Barrientos 6-2, 6-4. The 22-year-old Italian won 69% of his first service points, winning in one hour and 24 minutes to face Juan Carlos Saez, who beat Italian wild card Filippo Baldi 6-3, 6-0.
Former world number 33 and fifth seed Andrej Golubev made it also to the second round through a 7-6, 6-1 victory over Pietro Licciardi. The 27-year-old Kazakh saved all five break points and capitalized on two of his own to close the match after one hour and 43 minutes. Golubev will meet Flavio Cipolla for the second time with the world number 135 Russian native winning the only previous in Rome in 2007. Cipolla rallied back from a set down in the all-Italian-affair, beating Gianluigi Quinzi 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 57 minutes.
“Today I started very badly,” said Cipolla. “Then I started to fight and I think that I was physically in a better shape in the end. I felt good and he seemed to be a bit in trouble towards the end of the match.”
Filippo Volandri received a cake after his mileston win
In a special first round match Filippo Volandri celebrated his 300th ATP Challenger match win, beating Oriol Roca Batalla 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in one hour and 44 minutes. The 33-year-old Italian is the fourth man to reach this milestone, following Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo (372 wins), Paolo Lorenzi (305) and Rendy Lu (301).
“I must admit that I have never counted my wins, so it was a nice surprise to find that they are now up to 300, especially here in Milan, a special tournament for me. On the one hand I’m glad, the other means that the clock is ticking … ” told Volandri.
