Down a set-and-a-break, American Aleksandar Kovacevic rallied to remain alive within the Arizona Tennis Classic qualifying.
The 24-year-old earned a hard-fought 6-7(12), 7-6(6), 6-2 victory on Monday in opposition to Frenchman Geoffrey Blancaneaux after three hours, 10 minutes.
In the opening set tie-break, World No. 155 Blancaneaux fended off Kovacevic’s two set factors earlier than changing his eighth set level. The Frenchman then served for the match at 5-4 within the second set however Kovacevic elevated his degree to advance to the second spherical of qualifying on the Phoenix Challenger.
“Sometimes once you’re in these conditions, a man serving for the match, it’s sort of releasing, you’re pondering ‘I’d as properly exit swinging!’” Kovacevic stated post-match. “If I used to be going to lose, I wished to lose the correct means, which is enjoying my recreation and being aggressive.
“I knew if I may put my recreation collectively somewhat bit that I may win quite a lot of factors. I put all of it collectively in that recreation [where he served for the match]. It gave me somewhat little bit of confidence.”
Kovacevic, who’s No. 107 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, will subsequent meet countryman Bjorn Fratangelo for a spot within the star-studded major draw, which options Matteo Berrettini, Diego Schwartzman, Richard Gasquet, and Gael Monfils. Fratangelo, who earlier this month introduced his engagement to WTA star Madison Keys, ousted Elias Ymer 6-4, 7-6(6).
In different qualifying motion, Australian Rinky Hijikata gained seven of 9 break factors to defeat Mitchell Krueger 6-3, 6-3. The 22-year-old, who triumphed on the Burnie Challenger in February, will conflict Tuesday in opposition to Jan-Lennard Struff, who defeated Enzo Couacaud 6-4, 6-3. #NextGenATP Swiss Leandro Riedi cruised previous Puerto Vallarta Challenger champion Benoit Paire 6-4, 6-1. Italian Mattia Bellucci downed American wild card Murphy Cassone 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Nathan Ponwith, who hails from Arizona, brought about the primary upset of the Phoenix Challenger qualifying by taking out fourth seed Yosuke Watanuki 7-6(2), 6-2.
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Source: www.atptour.com