Marco Cecchinato fight and check in the first round match of theATP 250 in Kitzbuhel against a vicious Radu Albot. The Sicilian wins with the score of 6-3 7-6 (7) in one hour and 39 minutes of play. Debut not very comfortable for the national Ceck, who in the only two direct confrontations with the Macedonian had given in both times on clay. However Marco, although with some initial difficulties and in the second set, gets rid of Albot thanks to his proverbial weapons and sits down in the second round.

Cousin set. Slow start from Cecchinato who suffers from Albot’s speed and advances. The Macedonian, number 92 in the ATP ranking, flies in a few minutes 3-0, catching two breaks. The Sicilian does not get angry, manages to find fluidity in the response taking advantage of 45% of the opponent’s first balls on the field, returns and even scores 6 games in a row, easily closing the set.

Second set. Unlike the opening set, serves dominate. There is no shadow of a break point in sight until Albot’s 3-2, when a few too many errors by the Italian give the opponent two chances. Cecchinato cancels them with personality, but below 4-5 he must cancel three consecutive set balls. Marco appeals to his service and direct combo managing to resurface from the quicksand. In the next service game, the Palermitan cancels an additional set point by going up to the tiebreaker. Albot escapes at 5-1 before suffering the return of a convinced Cecchinato, who finds an excellent response at 5-6, and shortly after closes the contest at the second match point by 9 points to 7.

Marco Cecchinato then goes to the second round, which now awaits the winner of the challenge that faces the Serbian Djere against the German Altmaier, new semifinalist in Umag.

Photo: Origov