Italian Open 2020: Cilic, Dimitrov through to Round 2 as FAA, Kachenov out after Round 1

Italian Open 2020: Cilic, Dimitrov through to Round 2 as FAA, Kachenov out after Round 1

faa and kachenov

Auger Aliassime and Kachenov among the first casualties at Rome 2020

ATP Rome Masters 1000 kicked off today with several players in action. Italian Open is the only tournament this year in order for the players to prepare well for the French Open as most of the players shift their attention to clay courts after a long hardcourt season.

The first round got underway on Monday with top seeds in action. In this article we will have a look at some of the results in the first round.

Karen Kachenov vs Casper Rudd – Casper Rudd upsets Kachenov in Round 1

Kachenov loses to Rudd in Round 1

Karen Kachenov, the 11th seeded Russian continues his poor run this season losing to Casper Rudd in 3 tough sets at Rome on Monday. Kachenov started off poorly losing the first set comprehensively, he regained his composure and won the next set before losing the final set. Casper Rudd served well winning 67% of his points on his second serve. Kachenov on the other hand was very poor on all fronts today having just 56% first serve.

FS Video

Result– Casper Rudd defeats Kachenov 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Filip Krajinovic vs Felix Auger Alaissime- Another upset as F. Auger Alaissime falls in the 1st round

Auger Aliassime out from Rome 2020

The 16th seeded and much talked about Candian, Felix Auger Alaissime made a poor start to his clay-court season losing in 2 straight sets to the Serbian Filip Krajinovic. Felix Auger Alaissime could not continue the good form that led him to the last 16 in the US Open as he was very poor today. He managed to win just 66% of his first serve. Krajinovic, on the other hand, won a tremendous 90% of his points on first serve which proved to be the difference today.

Result– Filip Krajinovic defeats Felix Auger Alaissime 6-4,7-5.

Grigor Dimitrov vs Gianluca Mager – Dimitrov storms into Round 2

Dimitrov through into round 2

Grigor Dimitrov sailed past the Italian Gianluca Mager in two straight sets and booked a place in the 2nd round. Dimitrov started off a bit rusty but nevertheless taking the first set 7-5, however, he was on top of his game in the 2nd set winning 6-1. Dimitrov’s service was not the best today because though he served up 3 aces he also made 3 double faults which might cost him later in the tournament.

Result– Grigor Dimitrov defeats Mager 7-5, 6-1

Marin Cilic vs Alexander Bublik- Marin Cilic wins a hard-fought match to progress into Round 2

Marin Cilic had to battle it out in 3 sets against Alexander Bublik in 3 sets to progress into the 2nd round at Rome on Monday. Cilic started off slowly losing the first set in a tiebreaker before comfortably beating the Kazak in the next two sets. The match had a lot of aces with Cilic serving up 7 aces and Bublik serving up a massive 17 aces. Bublik would rue his missed chances as he passed up 9 breakpoints.

Result– Marin Cilic beats Bublik 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Borna Coric vs Cristian Garin- Coric continues his good form as he sails to Round 2

Coric through into round 2

Borna Coric, who reached the last 8 of the US Open continued his good form in Rome defeating 14th seeded Garin in two straight sets. Both the players suffered poorly today as Coric made 4 double faults while Garin made 10 double faults which most probably cost him the match today. Coric, going ahead definitely needs to up his serving game.

Result– Borna Coric defeats Christian Garin 6-4, 6-4

Also Read: Rafa Nadal Returns: King of clay is back in 2020, will he reign this year too?