ATP Madrid: Marozsan inarrestabile, buone prestazioni anche da parte di Draper e Van de Zandschulp.

Exciting challenges in the second half of the day 1 of the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid. Only one major Italian success with Darderi defeating Monfils. Here are the other matches.

F. Marozsan def. A. Karatsev 7-6(6) 7-2(2)

The Hungarian continues to be unstoppable in the Masters 1000 tournaments, winning a very complicated match against a good version of the Russian Karatsev, defeated only in two tiebreaks.

The first set flows with excellent serving performance from both players, with the Russian showing more difficulties in the opening games. Once he finds his rhythm with his shots, finding space in response becomes increasingly difficult. However, the first serve of Karatsev does not seem competitive enough, with a low conversion rate and points won. He is, however, successful in canceling all 4 break points offered to the Hungarian, who appears more solid from the early moments. At 5-all, things take a turn: Marozsan, who had only conceded 3 points on his serve until then, suddenly crumbles. Karatsev breaks to love, giving himself the opportunity to serve for the first set. The Hungarian refuses to give up, wanting to fight: there is drama in an endless game where Marozsan saves 7 set points, capitalizing on the only break chance of the game and winning the tiebreak. Karatsev starts well again, and after being up 6-2 in the tiebreak, he squanders another 4 match points, bringing the total to 11. Once again, Marozsan takes advantage of the first opportunity to win a hard-fought first set in over an hour of play, coming back from the brink of defeat.

In the second set, things turn around once again: at 5-all, after a period of total dominance on serve, Marozsan breaks to love, now with the chance to serve for the match. However, the tiebreak seems inevitable: the Russian’s strong response game brings the score level. This time, though, the tiebreak is dominated by the Hungarian. Marozsan closes out a challenging match in two sets, once again fighting until the end, even when everything seems lost.

B. Coric def. [Q] B. Hassan 6-7 7-5 6-3

There was also a great battle between the former Cincinnati champion, Borna Coric, and the 159th-ranked Benjamin Hassan from Lebanon.

Coric seems to start better, putting pressure on his opponent’s serve. Once overcoming the initial obstacles, the Lebanese player starts to find his rhythm on his shots, saving 4 break points. The set goes to a tiebreak with great balance, and it’s the unexpected player who breaks first: with 13 winners, Hassan takes the first set, now on the verge of his first ATP victory.

Nevertheless, Coric fights back. The battle is tough and tight: the serving becomes crucial, with Coric winning 80% of points on his first and second serves, never quite reaching the same quality on the return. At 5-all, the balance is broken once again. With great effort, Hassan saves a first set point when serving to stay in the set, but the second time, the pressure is too much. After saving the first 3, the fourth set point marks the turning point. The match goes to a deciding set.

A single break for Coric in the third set turns the tide in a match that had gotten too complicated: at the first opportunity, the Croat goes up 4-2, on the verge of the second round. After more than a set, Coric offers a break point again at the most crucial moment but does well to save it. He closes out the match on the second match point after two hours and thirty-eight minutes of play.

J. Draper def. [Q] T. Kokkinakis 6-3 3-6 7-5

Another challenging match for Jack Draper against Australian Kokkinakis, won by the British player in three sets.

The first set flies by with an early break in favor of the Englishman, who takes advantage of a low first serve percentage from his opponent and wins 17 out of 18 on his own serve. With 11 winners and only 3 unforced errors, it’s almost a perfect set.

As expected, things get tougher in the second set as the Australian raises his level, and Draper seems less sharp, conceding a break in the sixth game. He struggles in response, and the Australian takes control, increasing his winners and unforced errors, as well as his serving stats. The momentum of the match completely shifts.

In the third set, balance reigns, with only one break opportunity each converted. Then, a tiebreak decides the outcome. The Australian starts well but the pressure becomes too much. Draper closes out a hard-fought victory against a strong opponent who faltered at the crucial moment.

[Q] F. Bagnis def. [Q] B. Nakashima 6-3 7-6(5)

An excellent victory for Argentine Bagnis over Brandon Nakashima in just under two hours of play.

The struggles of the American are evident from the start, facing challenges on his serve. The fourth game is endless, with Nakashima saving 5 break points before eventually holding to level the score. However, the difficulties persist, and Bagnis manages to break at the tenth opportunity, going up 4-2. The Argentine has no trouble holding his serve and closes out the set at the second set point, winning six games to three.

In the second set, the American seems to have resolved his service issues, preventing Bagnis from attacking in return. Both players maintain an 80% first serve percentage and equal points won on their serves, with the American appearing less sharp compared to the first set. Serving to avoid a third set, Bagnis starts to waver. He saves three set points and breathes a sigh of relief, then wins the tiebreak to seal the victory. The American’s strong start in the set did not culminate in a win as he crumbled under pressure at the end.

Van de Zandschulp def. C. Eubanks 6-3 6-3

A dominant double 6-3 victory for the Dutch player, who dismisses Christopher Eubanks in a little over an hour of play.

It was all too easy for the Dutchman from the beginning. The first break comes in the fifth game, but Eubanks responds with an immediate break back. However, Van de Zandschulp wins three consecutive games, securing the set and overpowering an opponent who appeared helpless in the face of his opponent’s aggression.

The second set seems like it could be more closely fought, but both players hold their serve comfortably, allowing the match to progress at a rapid pace. However, a break in the sixth game leads to Van de Zandschulp’s victory as Eubanks once again falters, seeming to have lost the strength to fight back. Eubanks has a chance to break the Dutchman when serving for the match, but it’s not enough. Van de Zanschulp closes out the match on his first match point, moving on to the second round.

[Q] L. Klein def. [Q] P. Llamas Ruiz 6-1 4-6 7-6(4)

A fantastic victory for Lukas Klein against the home player Llamas Ruiz, who was defeated in three sets after just over two hours of play.

The first set is total dominance by the Slovak, who secures two breaks and concedes only 3 points on his serve, preventing the Spaniard from mounting any kind of reaction.

In the second set, things start to get complicated, but the Slovak always seems to be in control, immediately earning two break points that are well saved by the home player. However, when serving to stay in the set, everything changes: after a period of dominance on his serve, all of the Slovak’s efforts are nullified by Ruiz’s sudden surge in response. Ruiz closes out the set and is now ready to play the deciding set, fueled by his home fans.

The certainties crumble, and the third set sees only two break points, each converted by a player. Then nothing else, with a dominant serve interrupted only by two brief flashes, which decide the crucial tiebreak. Although Ruiz starts better, supported by the crowd and a strong desire to make history, the pressure may have been too great. Klein closes out the excellent performance on his first match point.