SAN BENEDETTO, July 17, 2015
Six locals were still in the main draw and all of them in action on quarterfinals Friday at the ATP Challenger in San Benedetto Tennis Cup.
In the first of two all-Italian-affairs on centre court, Marco Cecchinato defeated Filippo Volandri, winning 6-2, 7-5. The 22-year-old from Palermo hit seven aces and saved all four break points he faced and capitalized on three of his own. Cecchinato reached his ninth ATP Challenger semi-finals within the last three and a half months and made one step further to reach the qualifying of the US-Open later this year, being on a virtually 101st position in the ATP rankings.
“It was really hard to play against Filippo today. He has always served as a great example of a tennis player for me,” Cecchinato told.
The Italian will face the tournament’s number two Albert Ramos next. The 27-year-old Spaniard defeated Paolo Lorenzi for a second time this season, following his victory in Auckland in January. Ramos only had to save one break point and won 84% of his first service points, gaining a 6-3, 6-1 victory in one hour and six minutes.
In the second clash between two Italians, Salvatore Caruso beat Matteo Donati, winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. The 22-year-old qualifier converted six of his ten break point chances to prevail after two hours and 11 minutes.
Caruso will play Alessandro Giannessi in the semi-finals, who took out Maxime Hamou through a 6-3, 6-2 victory. The world number 402 from Italy was in total command, didn’t face a break point and won 78% of his first service points to close the match after only 69 minutes.
