STARNBERG, November 3, 2020
The ATP Challenger Tour has returned to Parma, Italy, for the second time this season. Following the Internazionali Di Tennis Emilia Romagna held on clay last month, professional tennis is being playing indoors at the PalaRaschi this week at the inaugural €44,820 Internazionali Di Tennis Citta di Parma.
Home favourite Lorenzo Musetti headlined Tuesday’s first-round action and emerged victorious from the all-Italian encounter with lucky loser Fabrizio Ornago 6-3, 7-5. The No. 4 seed, who captured his maiden title on the ATP Challenger Tour on home soil in Forli in September, sent down six aces and won 72 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 18 minutes.
“I started very well, concentrated and served well. In the second my level dropped a bit but I haven’t played on a fast surface for a long time. I had to adapt to the conditions to make the most of this surface,” said Musetti, who is competing in his first indoor hard-court tournament since February and will next take on fellow Italian Roberto Marcora.
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The goal for the World No. 124 is that the tournament in Parma will be the 18-year-old’s last ATP Challenger event of his career. “I hope to play on the ATP Tour on a regular basis. This season I had the opportunity to do it three times (Dubai, Rome and Santa Margherita di Pula). I won my first matches on the main circuit and I faced great players. I would like to win my second title here to leave the Challenger Tour,” Musetti said.
In other action, Cedrik-Marcel Stebe rallied from a set down to overcome Italian wild card entry Andrea Pellegrino 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The No. 7 seed from Germany withstood 14 aces and broke his opponent’s serve two times to prevail after one hour and 47 minutes. Up next for Stebe will be Kimmer Coppejans from Belgium.
Tuesday Results – First Round
Blaz Kavcic b. J.J. Wolf 6-3 2-0 rit.
Luca Nardi b. Giulio Zeppieri 7-5 5-7 6-4
Cedrik-Marcel Stebe b. Andrea Pellegrino 3-6 6-4 6-4
Roberto Marcora b. Stefano Napolitano 6-3 6-4
Lorenzo Musetti b. Fabrizio Ornago 6-3 7-5
Quentin Halys b. Federico Gaio 6-7(5) 7-6(2) 6-4
Mathias Bourgue b. Holger Rune 7-6(5) 6-1
