Sparkassen Trophy: Title favorite Gaio falters, but doesn't fall

The first match in a tournament is never easy. Especially not if you are the overwhelming favorite for the title on paper. But no one would have thought that it would be so difficult for Gaio. His opponent in the first round was Filippo Baldi - one of the great Italian youth talents, as he was the U14 European doubles champion alongside Gianluigi Quinzi. The current number 770 in the world rankings only made it into the main field of the Sparkassen Trophy thanks to a wild card from the Italian Tennis Association. Gaio served very well in the first set, and one break was enough to win the set 6:4. But then he completely lost his rhythm. “The wind coming up really bothered me. “Suddenly the timing was no longer right, both from the baseline and in the service,” said Gaio after the game. At the same time, Baldi played brilliantly and secured the set 6:2. Gaio started the third round with a break, but in the fourth game Baldi regained his lost serve. Things got really exciting when the score was 5:6 from Gaio's point of view. He fell 0:40 behind on his own serve, so Baldi had 3 match points. But then Gaio suddenly showed his best tennis. “In many phases of the match I was unfocused, but in that moment, with my back against the wall, I was fully there. I knew I had to get everything out of myself now. And it worked.” He fended off all three match points and equalized to 6:6. Now Baldi's morale was broken. The tiebreak ended 7:4, the match 6:4, 2:6, 7:6.

Number 2 Kolar also had teething problems The number two in the Sparkassen Trophy, the 19-year-old Kolar (ATP 260), also needed three sets against the Brazilian Joao Pedro Sorgi (ATP 542). “It took me a set and a half to find my game,” said Kolar after his first round match. “From then on I was very happy with my performance.” The game ultimately ended 6:7, 6:4 and 6:3. The game between Orlando Luz (ATP 520) and Juan Pablo Paz (ATP 317) was also eagerly awaited. Luz was the 2015 Junior Wimbledon doubles champion and had a lot to make up for after his surprising first-round exit in the doubles competition yesterday. But even today Luz made too many mistakes against a solid Paz. Paz won 6:1, 6:4.

Horst Rieder has no chance The only South Tyrolean in the main field, Horst Rieder, had no chance today. He lost to the winner of the ITF tournament in Bolzano, Jose Hernandez-Fernandez (296) 0:6 and 1:6. Rieder received a wild card for the main field from the organizers. However, Bastian Malla (ATP 417)'s exit against qualifier Wilson Leite (ATP 827) was quite surprising. After a furious 6:0 in the first set, he lost the next two sets against the man from Rio de Janeiro with 4:6 and 3:6. Yannick Hanfmann, the qualifier Juan Pablo Ficovich, Matteo Viola, Pedro Cachin, Jeremy Jahm, Jonathan Eysseric and Marcelo Zormann are also further along.

Gaio faces a “hot” qualifier Tomorrow, Tuesday, the second round of the Sparkassen Trophy is on the program with 8 singles and 4 doubles games. The game starts at 11 a.m. at the tennis facility in Rungg/Eppan. The main question is how Gaio will present itself after its bumpy start. Opposite him is the Croatian qualifier Franjo Raspudic, who makes it clear in advance that he is not afraid of Gaio: “We played against each other in Norway 10 months ago. The game lasted three sets, so I definitely think I have a chance tomorrow,” said Raspudic (ATP 3) confidently. The match between him and defending champion Gaio is scheduled for 782:16.30 p.m.

Sparkasse Trophy - TC Rungg – $25.000 + Hospitality

Main field 1. round Federico Gaio (ITA/1/ATP 158) - Filippo Baldi (ITA/WC/765) 6:4, 2:6, 7:6(4) Franjo Raspudic (CRO/Q/ATP 775) - Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera (CHI/ATP 463) 6:4, 4:6, 7:5 Yannick Hanfmann (GER/ATP 340) - Marco Bortolotti (ITA/ATP 453) 6:3, 6:1 Juan Pablo Ficovich (ARG/Q/ATP 1052) - Francesco Ferrari (ITA/LL/ATP 1933) 6:3, 6:4 Jose Hernandez-Fernandez (DOM/4/ATP 296) - Horst Rieder (ITA/WC) 6:0, 6:1 Francesco Picco (ITA/ATP 491) - Rafael Matos (BRA/Q/ATP 1018) 6:1, 3:6, 6:2 Marcelo Zormann (BRA/ATP 492) - Walter Trusendi (ITA/ATP 514) 7:6(6), 7:6 (6) Matteo Viola (ITA/8/ATP 330) - Jacopo Berrettini (ITA/WC) 6:0, 6:1 Juan Pablo Paz (ATG/7/ATP 317) - Orlando Luz (BRA/ATP 520) 6:1, 6:4 Jonathan Eysseric (FRA/ATP 347) - Gianluca Di Nicola (ITA/Q/ATP 687) 3:6, 7:6(2), 6:2 Adelchi Virgili (ITA/ATP 560) - Giovanni Oradini (ITA/Q) 6:2, 6:4 Pedro Cachin (ARG/3/ATP 280) - Riccardo Sinicropi (ITA/ATP 637) 5:7, 6:3, 7:6(1) Jeremy Jahn (GER/6/ATP 307) - Enrico Dalla Valle (ITA/WC/ATP 1151) 7:6(7), 6:4 Marcel Felder (URU/Q) - Sebastian Prechtel (GER/Q/ATP 1029) 7:6(0), 6:2 Wilson Leite (BRA/Q/ATP 827) - Bastian Malla (CHI/ATP 417) 0:6, 6:4, 6:3 Zdenek Kolar (CZE/2/ATP 257) - Joao Pedro Sorgi (BRA/ATP 533) 6:7(3), 6:4, 6:3

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Sparkassen Trophy: Title favorite Gaio falters, but doesn't fall

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