Tennis, Atp Winston-Salem: out of Musetti and Seppi. Come on Mager

Italy loses pieces in Winston-Salem, the last tournament before the United States Open. Lorenzo Musetti was eliminated in the first round by Federico Coria who prevailed at the end of a very hard match for 6-4 4-6 6-4. Musetti starts well, pushes from the back with authority and immediately finds a good percentage of firsts. In an interminable second game he reaches the break point twice, but fails to convert the opportunities and Coria equalizes the game count. With the backhand Musetti does what he wants, with the forehand he holds up and at 2-1 he reaches the break point once again, but misses a not impossible touch. In the fifth game it is the Argentine who gets to the break point: Musetti tries to go to the net to cancel it but he hits badly straight and the ball sadly ends up in the net. Musetti’s tenacity does not subside, the blue misses the break point number five, but with a backhand of rare beauty he works the counter break for the 3 all. The blue, however, comes off, loses his shine, undergoes a new break and then, after missing the ball of the counter break, sinks under 5-3. The match is intense, Musetti saves a set point, shortens to 4-5, then after the change of field he tries to get back into the game. But Coria does not hesitate and takes home a very expensive first set, finishing with a good crossed forehand volley. In the second set Musetti still goes under a break (2-1 and serve for the Argentine), but it is only the first of four consecutive breaks that realign the game on 3 all. The blue takes out his nails and in extremis grabs the set and extends the challenge to the third. Here Coria, after the break of the first game, asks for the intervention of the doctor for breathing difficulties. Try to keep going, despite often putting your hand on your chest. The Argentine flies to 4-0, Musetti recovers one of the two breaks but not the second.

SEPPI OUT

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Andreas Seppi is also out, overtaken by Belarusian Ilya Ivanshka with a double 6-4. The South Tyrolean suffers throughout the first set, cancels four break points without ever having a chance to go on the run. On the fifth occasion the Belarusian scores and takes home the first fraction. In the second the situation does not change, Seppi is forced to chase, he goes back but ends up giving up the second fraction for 6-4.

IN THE NIGHT

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During the night in Italy, Gianluca Mager made his winning debut, who beat Chinese Taipei Tung Li Wun in two sets 7-6 (5) 6-3. And then the second round for Marco Cecchinato, opposite the German Dominik Koepfer.