PULA, March 16, 2016

Following the stops in Rovinj and Porec, the ITF Pro Circuit continues with the Istrian clay court swing in Pula this week, in the biggest city of the peninsula with a population of about 58,000. The $10,000 Futures event is held at the Arnaturist Sportscentre Verudela.

Map Istria

The first round matches concluded on Wednesday with the tournament’s favourites prevailing. Top-seed Riccardo Bellotti cruised past fellow Italian Davide Melchiorre 6-3, 6-0. The world number 273 won 57 of the total 89 points in only 54 minutes. Bellotti will face Porec champion Zdenek Kolar. The 19-year-old Czech captured his maiden title last Sunday and ousted Duje Kekez in the opening round in Pula. Kolar sent down six aces and won 73% of his first service points to secure a 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 victory in one hour and 49 minutes. Bellotti and Kolar will meet for the second time on the tour with the Italian winning the previous meeting in Croatia last year.

Zdenek Kolar

Second seed Peter Torebko didn’t face a break point to beat Italian qualifier Riccardo Balzerani 6-1, 6-3 in one hour and 30 minutes. The 28-year-old German will face Antonio Sancic, who emerged victorious from the all-Croatian-affair with Kristijan Mesaros, winning 6-3, 6-3. Sancic, who has already reached three doubles finals on the ATP Challenger Tour this season, entered the main draw with a wild card, finishing the encounter after one hour and 17 minutes.

The tournament’s number three Marco Bortolotti ousted Luka Ilic 6-2, 7-5 to set a second round meeting with Brazilian qualifier Eduardo Dischinger, who took out Sebastian Prechtel 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. Austrian Pascal Brunner is the only player from the top-four, who fell in his opening match. The 26-year-old from Mödling lost to Danile Giorgini 4-6, 6-7.