Klizan-De Jong and Coria-Altmaier will be the semi-finals of the third edition of the Emilia-Romagna Tennis Cup organized by Master Group Sport with the patronage of the Emilia Romagna Region taking place on the courts of the Sporting Club Sassuolo.
ALTMAIER WINS, APPLAUSE FOR BONADIO
The last box was filled on Thursday evening with Daniel Altmaier’s 67 62 75 victory over a heroic Riccardo Bonadio who nevertheless emerged to the applause of the public for a very high level tournament played since the first qualifying round. With Bonadio the last of the Italian tennis players also leaves: this year the winner of the tournament already the prerogative of the Croatian Borna Coric (2022) and the Frenchman Alexandre Muller (2023) will therefore be foreign again.
Coming to the match, in the first set Altmaier needed to rely on his serve (75% of points with the first serve and 4 aces, there will be 9 at the end of the match) to resist the solidity and continuity of a Bonadio who has not conceded since the beginning of the tournament nothing to the adversaries encountered along the way. The Friulian took home the first set with an impeccable tie break which ended at 7-4. In the second set Altmaier raises the level by granting little or nothing to the 30-year-old from San Vito al Tagliamento who seems to be on the ropes, but who recovers his confidence and energy in the third set supported by the public. It reached 5-5 when Altmaier broke serve from his opponent with a flash, finally taking home the match and the semi-final. The 25-year-old German, number 82 in the world and seeded number 4 in the tournament, will face Argentine Coria, seeded 1 in the tournament, on Friday 21 June in the semi-final of the top half of the draw.
CORIA PRAISES THE SASSUOLO PUBLIC
In his match Federico Coria got the better of Marco Cecchinato who wasn’t enough heart and the usual spectacular shots. At the end of a match that lasted almost two hours the Argentine got the better of the “Check” with a score of 62 76. A first set dominated by the 32 year old from Rosario, currently number 74 in the world, who punished the many errors made by Sicilian particularly fouled today (8 double faults in the end). The second set was more balanced with Cecchinato who at times found his best shine, thrilling the audience with his passes and throws. Coria, supported in the corner staff by coach Carlos Berlocq (former number 37 in the world and coach in the past of the Argentine talent Etcheverry), however never let go and, also thanks to an attack of stomach cramps by the Italian, took home the second set at the tie break thus gaining access to the semi-final. It is the third Italian “scalp” in this tournament for Coria who, before Cecchinato, had eliminated Maestrelli and Arnaboldi.
«I am very happy – Coria’s words at the end of the match – for reaching the semi-finals of this fantastic tournament with an audience that has shown me affection and support since the first day. I know Marco very well, his talent and his heart, I knew it would be a tough match and so it was especially in the second set when he raised the nervous level of the match. Now let’s move on to the semi-final, I’m expecting lots of fans in the stands.”
TODAY’S PROGRAM
It promises to be a spectacular Friday, therefore, on the fields of Sporting Club Sassuolo.
The day will open with the first semi-final of the doubles tournament with the Italian Marco Bortolotti together with the Australian Matthew Romios who at 12 pm on the central court will challenge the German Andre Begemann and the Romanian Victor Cornea. At 3pm the match between Martin Klizan and Jesper De Jong will begin, an unprecedented challenge between two tennis players who have never met before on the professional circuit. Next (around 5pm) the number 1 seed Federico Coria will take to the field against Daniel Altmaier with the German ahead 3-2 in the previous matches (although in the last direct clash at the ATP250 in Cordoba this year Coria won in three sets). The second semi-final of the doubles is scheduled for 2pm on court 4.
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