MARBELLA, March 27, 2018

Marco Cecchinato emerged victorious from the first round clash with Austrian veteran Jürgen Melzer at the inaugural €43,000 Casino Admiral Trophy held on clay courts at the Puente Romano Beach Resort and Spa in Marbella.

No. 3 seed from Italy defeated 36-year-old Melzer, who competed in his first tournament since Wimbledon last year, quite comfortably by the score of 6-1, 7-6(1). Cecchinato sent down eight aces, lost his serve only one time and converted three of his five own break point chances to advance in one hour and 20 minutes.

The World No. 97 will next face another Austrian, as Sebastian Ofner edged out Spanish veteran and former World No. 5 Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-1. The 21-year-old from Sankt Marein won 59 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in 66 minutes.

Top seed Roberto Carballés Baena also booked his place in the second round. The World No. 78 from Spain, who clinched his maiden crown on the ATP World Tour in Quito earlier this season, beat compatriot Pedro Martínez Portero 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes. Next up for Carballés Baena will be Belgian qualifier Kimmer Coppejans.

Local favourite and ambassador of the tournament, Adrian Menéndez-Maceiras fell in the opening round. The No. 4 seed lost to Martin Klizan from Slovakia 6-3, 6-4. The 28-year-old Bratislava native will next take on Australian wild card entry Alexei Popyrin. The 18-year-old from Sydney will be joined in the second round by fellow teenager Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who ousted Norbert Gombos of Slovakia 6-3, 6-3. The reigning Wimbledon juniors champion will challenge Argentine Marco Trungelliti next.