TULLN, September 6, 2022
Five qualifiers have booked their spots in the second round of the NÖ Open powered by EVN, an €90,280 ATP Challenger Tour clay-court tournament being held at the TC Tulln.
Elmar Ejupovic knocked out No. 8 seed Marco Cecchinato of Italy 6-4, 7-5 on Tuesday. The 436th-ranked German, who captured his seventh career title on the ITF World Tennis Tour in Caslano, Switzerland in late August, struck seven aces and won 87 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 38 minutes. Ejupovic will next take on #NextGenATP Italian Giulio Zeppieri.
Fellow German qualifier Julian Lenz rallied past Dimitar Kuzmanov from Bulgaria 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-1. The 29-year-old from Gießen withstood 11 aces and broke his rival six times to prevail after two hours and 30 minutes. Lenz will next play No. 6 seed Jurij Rodionov of Austria, who beat Benjamin Hassan of Lebanon 7-6(5), 6-4 in one hour and 47 minutes.
Lukas Klein upset fifth favourite Dennis Novak from Austria 7-6(9), 6-4. The 24-year-old qualifier from Slovakia saved all five break points he faced and converted one of his own six break-point chances to secure victory in one hour and 47 minutes.
“Unfortunately, Dennis’ return wasn’t as effective in some situations today as usual,” Novak’s touring coach Julian Knowle said. Klein will next face Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Alves.
Other qualifiers, who reached the second round, are Ivan Gakhov of Russia and Dutchman Jelle Sels.
Meanwhile, top seed Federico Coria began his title bid with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Russian Alexander Shevchenko. The World No. 78 from Argentina outpointed his opponent 89-84 in two hours and seven minutes. Coria opposes Sels in the second round.
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
