ORTISEI, October 6, 2018
Only one out of seven players from South Tyrol advanced to the second round of the qualifying at the €64,000 Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena. Patric Prinoth emerged victorious from the battle of the wild card entries with fellow Italian and only 16-year-old Jonas Greif 6-2, 7-6(2) on Saturday at the Tennis Club Ortisei.
Pietro Fellin (photo: Marco Wanker)
The 22-year-old local favourite sent down eight aces and broke his opponent’s serve four times to prevail after one hour and 10 minutes.
Prinoth will next challenge No. 2 seed Kevin Krawietz from Germany, who made it into the semi-finals two years ago.
Pietro Orlando Fellin, Manuel Bernard, Michael Kerschbaumer, Alexander Weis and Joy Vigani fell in the opening round of the qualifying.
Main draw announced
Four top 100 players will headline main draw action. The tournament’s No. 1 and World No. 53 Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France will open his title bid against Tomislav Brkic from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Second seeded Slovak Lukas Lacko will play Ante Pavic of Croatia in the first round. Spanish young gun Jaume Munar, seeded third, awaits a qualifier and fourth favourite and defending champion Lorenzo Sonego of Italy will take on Constant Lestienne of France.
