ROME, September 29, 2015

The bottom half of the main draw was in action on Day 1 of the € 42,5000 BFD Energy Challenger in Rome. It is the second ATP Challenger event taking place in Italy’s capital this season. For the first time the tournament is held at the Due Ponti Sporting Club, located in the North of Rome.

Second seed Daniel Gimeno-Traver opened his Rome title bid with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Federio Gaio. The world number 90 from Spain saved all two break points he faced, converting three of his own to advance after one hour and 17 minutes.

Gimeno-Traver will take on Thiemo de Bakker next, who defeated local qualifier Riccardo Bonadio 6-0, 6-2.

Other Italians were more successful with fourth seed Marco Cecchinato beating Andrej Martin 6-1, 6-4. The 22-year-old from Palermo won 61% of his first service points and capitalized on four of his break point chances to prevail in 66 minutes.

Cecchinato will meet fellow-Italian Gianluca Naso in round two. The world number 198 withstood five aces from Salvatore Caruso to seal a 6-3,6-2 victory in one hour and 13 minutes.

The tournament’s number five Filip Krajinovic saved eight of the nine break points he faced and converted five of his own, winning 6-3, 6-1 against Pedro Cachin from Argentina. The match lasted one hour and 11 minutes.

Krajinovic will play Marton Fucsovics next. The 23-year-old from Hungary won 76% of his first service points and gained five breaks during the 60 minutes-encounter against Calvin Hemery from France.