Carlos Taberner d Nino Sedarusic 6-2 6-2
Taberner starting off strong, going about his business as usual. The Spaniard converting 4/6 break points in a demolition over the home Croat. Doing well to hold no break point opportunities for the world no 288.
Bernabe Zapata Miralles d Pablo Cuevas 4-6 6-2 6-4
In a match full of opportunity, it was the Spaniard full of energy to topple the 35yo. Cuevas got the first set, but from there it was the slow momentum shift, with Miralles overcoming an inconsistent first set to convert break points. Miralles converting 5/15 break point opportunities compared to just 3/8 for Cuevas, so the Uruguayan did have his chances.
Stefano Travaglia d Jaume Munar (6) 6-3 7-6(1)
Travaglia had the crowd behind him as he was just too powerful for the Spaniard. What was like some drunk Italians were pushing Travaglia over the line in the second set, and putting the Spaniard on tilt. The aggression showed in the 6th seed only winning 29% of second serves compared to almost double (55%) for the Italian.
Alessandro Gianessi d Jiri Vesely 7-6(4) 7-5
The Italian upsetting the Czech man in a tight match! The match could have gone either way, but it was the Italian edging Vesely here. A very similar match statistically, but Gianessi fighting hard as the underdog to take the win.
Daniel Altmaier d Corentin Moutet 5-7 6-1 (WALKOVER)
Altmaier is a good fighter, and seemed to have figure Moutet's unique playing style in the second set. It can often take opponents a set to figure Moutet out, because once found out, Moutet struggles to win matches. Altmaier was on a roll, and Moutet could
Duje Ajdukovic d Andrea Collarini 6-3 6-2
Another case of a couple of players that never really surface the ATP level. Ajdukovic winning in a close match than the score let off. In a match like this where Ajdukovic is 275 in the world and Collarini is 210 , there can be many momentum shifts, and it was the Croat coming through with the win with help from the crowd.
Damir Dzhumur d FIlip Horansky 6-4 6-3
Dzhumur showing some great consistency to defeat a big serve in Horansky in straight sets. Dzhumur converting 4/6 break points compared to just 1/1 for the Serb. The Bosnian playing very consistent, which is the best quality to have in a field of upsets.
Andrej Martin d Renzo Olivo 1-6 6-2 7-6(1)
Martin has been in good form lately, so it was a shock when he got smashed in the first set. Knowing Martin, he loves a three set match, and coming back from the brink of defeat, which is exactly what he did. Martin clutching with 5/5 break points converted compared to only 5 out of a whopping 20 break point opportunities. Huge clutch from the Slovak, but not sure if he will get that lucky further in the tournament.
Marco Cecchinato d Aljaz Bedene (5) 6-1 6-4
Despite Bedene holding a 6-1 H2H prior, it was Cecchinato with the most recent win between the two. Cecchinato looked aggressive and consistent, widely contrasted to Bedene, looking extremely inconsistent; only serving at 36% first serve. Cecchinato serving in 75%, and allowing no break point opportunities to come to the way of the Slovenian.
Gianluca Mager (8) d Pedro Martinez 0-6 6-3 6-3
Mager surviving a dead start to have the momentum to push past the Spaniard. Mager was that bit more aggressive and consistent serving that won him the match. Statistically the whole match was close, but looking at the scoreline, it was clear Mager had dismissed the first set, so looking at the statistics in the final two sets, it was the Italian all the way!
Carlos Alcaraz Garfia (7) d Lucas Pouille 3-6 6-2 6-2
The Spaniard survived a slow start to overcome the Frenchman here. Pouille has ascertained the aggression he always has, but it wears thin in longer matches these day as Pouille is recovering from injury, and is lacking consistency. Alcaraz Garfia is only 18, and only entering the start of his ATP Tour career, and was non-stop aggression to the Frenchman, holding that bit more consistency to crush Pouille in the latter stages of the match.
