The first day of qualifying for the third “Emilia-Romagna Tennis Cup”, the ATP Challenger 125 tournament organized by Master Group Sport in collaboration with the Emilia Romagna Region at the Sporting Club of Sassuolo, goes to the archives.
Among the most hotly contested matches was that of the enfant du pay, the 19-year-old Federico Bondioli, who came one step away from the dream but ended up defeated after almost three hours of battle by the expert Friulian tennis player Riccardo Bonadio.
The final score (76 36 64) only partially conveys the idea of the balance and intensity of the match between the two Italian tennis players in a derby played at times in a spectacular way with dampers and passers on both sides . In front of the eyes of the president of the Emilia Romagna Region Stefano Bonaccini, present in the stands together with the mayor of Sassuolo Matteo Mesini and the president of the Sporting Club Antonio Nicolini, supported by the fans of the public (Bondioli is a member and trains on the Sporting pitches), the young left-handed player from Ravenna was able to recover from 2-5 by forcing the first set to a tie break won by Bonadio with experience and strong nerves. In the second set there was a comeback with a 6-3 victory for Bondioli who then managed to break his opponent’s serve at the start of the third set. In the most difficult moment Bonadio summoned the energy to resist Bondioli’s escape attempts, closing the match with a deserved 6-3 in the third set.
«It was a very tough match on a physical level with long rallies and with his first service ball which put a lot of effort into me – commented Bonadio at the end of the match – I think I won it with my body and experience. At the beginning he maybe he was a little tense and I took advantage of it to get ahead in the score, in the second he gave me very little and the level of the match raised, in the third it was an above all physical battle. Now my goal is to recharge my batteries for the second match.”
Marco Cecchinato also put on a show on central court (photo) who with an authoritative 63 63 did better than the solid Serbian Nino Serdarusic, gaining access to the second and decisive round of the qualifiers where he will find the Spaniard Jorda Sanchis waiting for him tomorrow (winning over Carlo Alberto Caniato with 62 61). «Today was a good match – comments the semi-finalist of Roland Garros 2018 – This is a tournament that I feel a lot about and to which I am particularly attached, here in Sassuolo I play in Serie A and there are many people who love me».
In Italy, things went less well for Raul Brancaccio who, in his debut match on central court, had to give way (16 36) to the rediscovered Martin Klizan. The Slovakian former number 24 in the world is gradually finding the form and rhythm that started a few months after his return to the pitch. «I love playing in Italy – comments the Slovak – I’m trying to get back to Challenger level after playing some Futures tournaments. Here in Sassuolo I hope to score as many points as possible to continue moving up the rankings.” In Klizan’s way is the Croatian Luka Mikrut who eliminated the Italian Luca Castagnola (62 76) not without difficulty.
In the other Italian derby of the day Alexander Weis (number 4 seed in the qualifiers) beat Gabriele Piraino with a double 6-2. «I started very well, here in Sassuolo I immediately felt confident starting from the training sessions on Saturday. I like the conditions, today was a good match but I’m already looking forward to tomorrow’s match”, the words of the South Tyrolean tennis player.
Nothing to do for Gianluca Cadenasso against the number 1 seed in the qualifiers Valentin Royer (64 64 for the Frenchman), for Luca Giacomini overcome by the Argentine Agustin Gomez (63 63) and for Alessandro Giannessi defeated 76 62 on the center court by the American Ryan Seggerman. Burning defeat for Samuele Pieri (06 63 67) against the expert Argentine Guido Andreozzi and for Federico Gaio who had to bow before the Australian Blake Ellis (76 63). Australia also sends Blake Mott to the second round after a very tight match against the Russian Alexey Vatutin beaten 46 76 64.
THE MONDAY PROGRAM – Starting tomorrow the main draw will start with the presence of five top hundred. There is a lot of anticipation for Fabio Fognini’s debut against the Frenchman Maxime Janvier which will take place on the central court in the evening round (8pm). On the same court, in the afternoon, Borna Coric will also be on stage (at 3pm against the Argentine Ficovich) and the number 1 seed Federico Coria against the Italian Francesco Maestrelli (at 5.30pm). Also on the field is Andrea Pellegrino against the American Tristan Boyer on court 4 at 5pm. For the second qualifying round, Marco Cecchinato also takes to the field (at 10am on the central court against the Spaniard Jorda Sanchis) and Alexander Weis against Blake Mott at the same time on the field 4.
Tickets on sale on the Vivaticket circuit. The purchase of a single day ticket entitles you to attend the entire programme, including the evening session.
EMILIA-ROMAGNA TENNIS CUP PROGRAM
- MONDAY 17 JUNE: Qualifying and first round from 10:00 am and a match at 8:00 pm
- TUESDAY 18 JUNE: First round from 10:00 am and a match at 8:00 pm
- WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE: Round of 16 from 10:00 am and a match at 8:00 pm
- THURSDAY 20 JUNE: Quarter-finals from 11:00 am and a match at 8:00 pm
- FRIDAY 21 JUNE: Doubles semi-finals at 12.00 pm and Singles semi-finals at 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm
- SATURDAY 22 JUNE: Doubles final at 3.00 pm and Singles final at 6.00 pm
