ATP Sofia: Jonas Forejtek tops struggling Marin Cilic. Vasek Pospisil advances

For the first time in 15 years, Marin Cilic will finish the season without a single ATP quarter-final! The struggling Croat came to Sofia as the 8th seed but will not have the opportunity to fight for the trophy, suffering a heavy 6-3, 6-2 loss to a former junior world no. 1 and the last year's US Open winner Jonas Forejtek in 66 minutes. The 19-year-old Czech made the strongest ATP debut, losing serve once and producing four breaks to topple Cilic and advance into the second round. They traded breaks in games two and three and the youngster saved a break chance at 3-3 to stay in touch. That gave him momentum to push even harder, breaking Marin at 15 in game eight and sealing the opener on his serve a few minutes later. Gaining a boost, the Czech saved the only break point in set number two and kept the pressure on the other side of the net. Jonas broke Marin in games one and three and sealed the deal with a hold at 5-2 for the first victory at the ATP tournaments.

Egor Gerasimov defeated Viktor Troicki 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes, winning four points more than the Serb. Troicki stayed in touch after fending off nine out of 11 break chances, still falling in three sets after scoring only one break of serve. The Belarusian served well in the opener and scored a break in game four for 6-3. Troicki took charge in set number two, dropping four points behind the initial shot and stealing the rival's serve in game two to force a decider. Starting all over, Gerasimov saved a break point at 1-1 in the final set, converting the fifth chance in the next one to grab a break and bring the victory home from there.

Junior US Open champion took down Marin Cilic in straight sets.

The 5th seed Adrian Mannarino ousted a lucky loser Martin Klizan 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in two hours and nine minutes. Mannarino recovered after a slow start, storming over his opponent in set number two and opening a 3-1 lead in the decider.

Klizan pulled the break back and stayed in touch until game 11 when Adrian scored a late break and moved over the top with a hold at love. Vasek Pospisil needed two hours and 43 minutes to beat Illya Marchenko 6-2, 5-7, 7-6. The Ukrainian held the strings in his hands, serving for the victory at 5-4 in the decider and having three more break chances at 5-5, squandering those and losing a tight tie break to propel Vasek over the finish line. Marc-Andrea Huesler took down the 7th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 4-6, 7-6, playing almost a perfect opening set and prevailing after fending off two match points at 5-6 in the final set.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3llVJW8