Kecmanovic Advances, Popyrin Saves 4 Match Points In Belgrade
Miomir Kecmanovic moved past qualifier Facundo Bagnis at the Serbian Open on Tuesday, 7-6(5), 7-6(4).
The eighth-seeded Serbian was serving for the match at 5-2 and 5-4, but got broken each time and didn’t see a match point until the tie-break. He set up a second-round clash with another qualifier, France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
“It was a tough match. It was tough conditions – very slow, very heavy,” Kecmanovic said. “I’m happy that I was able to fight through even though I maybe didn’t play my best at times. I’m just happy to be able to move forward.”
Rinderknech, a French 25-year-old ranked No. 129, beat Juan Iganacio Londero, 6-1, 7-5.
Kecmanovic’s compatriot, Laslo Djere, didn’t fare as well. The ninth seed lost his bout with qualifier Gianluca Mager 6-4, 6-3. Djere was a finalist at the Sardegna Open just last month.
Mager will next play Alexei Popyrin, who saved four match points against qualifier qualifier Francisco Cerundolo, battling past the Argentine 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(6).
The Aussie lost the first 13 points of the deciding set, and later faced one match point at 4-5, two at 5-6 and another at 5/6 in the tie-break. Popyrin won his first ATP Tour title earlier this year in Singapore.
Ajlaz Bedene won a tight battle over Sebastian Korda, who was appearing in his first event since reaching the quarter-finals of the Miami Open presented by Itau. Bedene saved two match points against the young American before prevailing in two hours and 40 minutes, 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(4).
Bedene will take on third seed Aslan Karatsev in the second round.