MILAN, June 25, 2015

Top seed Benoit Paire had to work hard, saving three match points to overcome Federico Gaio on Day 4 at the Aspria Tennis Cup in Milan. The 26-year-old Frenchman advanced to the quarterfinals hitting eight aces and capitalized on six of his 14 break points to end the match in the decider after two hours and 11 minutes, winning 2-6, 6-4, 7-6. Paire is going to meet Rogerio Dutra Silva next. The Brazilian qualifier cruised past Jonathan Eysseric in only 51 minutes, winning 6-0, 6-1.

Benoit Paire (photo: Aspria Tennis Cup)

The newest member of the 300 ATP Challenger-match-wins-club, Filippo Volandri prevailed beating Tomislav Brkic 6-2, 6-4. The 33-year-old Italian won 72% of his first service points to close the match after 71 minutes. Volandri will face Calvin Hemery next. The 20-year-old French knocked out third seed Blaz Kavcic in 66 minutes, winning 6-3, 6-2.

“I have been out for six months due to knee injury,” told Kavcic, who was sidelined from August till November 2014. “So I am still looking for the best shape, but I feel pretty good.”

Fourth seed Marco Cecchinato defeated Juan Carlos Saez, winning 7-5, 6-3. The 22-year-old Italian won 72% of his first service points to seal victory in one hour and 37 minutes but did not seem to be satisfied with his performance.

“I played really badly. I could not feel the ball and was not able to take advantage of five or six important break points. But in the end I brought the match home,” Cecchinato told.

Marco Cecchinato (photo: Aspria Tennis Cup)

The world number 123 will take on fellow countryman Flavio Cipolla in the quarterfinals. The Italian knocked out fifth seed Andrej Golubev 6-4, 6-4 after 77 minutes.

“I suffered a lot of pressure, as Golubev is a player, who does not give you a rhythm on court. I served poorly but I still tried to do the right things and in the end everything went well,” Italian qualifier Cipolla told after winning his fifth match in Milan.

The tournament’s number two Federico Delbonis celebrated a straights sets victory over Italian wild card Gianluca Mager. The 24-year-old Argentine lost his service three times but converted five of his ten break point chances, winning 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 26 minutes. Delbonis will face sixth Laslo Djere next. The Serbian qualifier beat another Italian in person of Gianluca Naso 6-1, 7-6 to reach the quarterfinals.

Federico Delbonis (photo: Aspria Tennis Cup)