Luca Vanni takes down Marco Cecchinato in final qualifier – Todi Challenger 2011
Local Luca Vanni stormed fellow countryman, Marco Cecchinato 7-6(3), 6-4 on clay in one hour and 38 minutes to move into the main draws of the Todi Challenger 2011 on Sunday, 11th September.
Rivalling each other for the first time, the two put up a tough fight for the win, however, Vanni had the edge of playing at home regarding his last 10 matches. The two right-hander were well competed as both had a pleasing last 10 match run.
Aged 18, Cecchinato is ranked well below in the 700s, world No.750 to be precise. Starting off his career in 2010, the young Italian played most of his prior matches on clay courts. With a 21-16 win loss ratio altogether, Cecchinato decided to enter his 6th challenger for this season, however, could not make it into the main draws.
On the other hand, playing his 29th match on clay this season, Vanni succeeded in making a room for himself in the main draws of the Todi challenger 2011. Prior to his entrance in the ATP Challenger, he made a remarkable 10 match run winning 8 and losing only 2. Ranked world No.373, the Italian also conquered the hard court at home winning the Italy F24 which was his first hard court win.
Despite the disparity in ranking, the 18-year-old cracked up the started and rolled down the first game of set 1. Following the 18-year-olds win, Vanni levelled up the scores winning game 2 and switching the serve. The two volleyed again to level the score first at 2-2 then at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and finally ended up in a crucial tiebreak game.
Serving the tiebreak first, Cecchinato took the initial 3 points, however, fell short and endured a 7-3 loss. Vanni took the first set winning 7-6(3) and served to open the decider set.
With a commanding lead over the young counterpart, the 26-year-old served to open the second set winning game 1 and rolled down the scores, 1-0. Reversing back the scores to level, the 18-year-old took out game 2 in no time and switched the serve back. The equally matched countrymen won on their respective serves before Vanni served game 9 of the second and blistered a breakpoint in the 10th winning set 2 6-4.
Winning in straight sets, the 26-year-old Italian now sits in the main draws of the Todi challenger where he would face the former champion and the 2ndseeded, Filippo Volandri, in his first round match of the 2011 Internazionali di Tennis dell'Umbria.
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