Cecchinato Ousts Thiem In Geneva

Four years ago, Dominic Thiem defeated Marco Cecchinato in straight sets in the Roland Garros semi-finals. On Monday in Geneva, with both men trying to find their form, it was Cecchinato who emerged victorious.

The Italian defeated Thiem 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Gonet Geneva Open, leaving the Austrian still looking to recapture his best form leading into Roland Garros.

Thiem missed the second half of last season due to a wrist injury. The former World No. 3 returned to action at an ATP Challenger Tour event this March, and has yet to taste victory in his six outings.

The two-time Roland Garros finalist showed some of his trademark shotmaking in Geneva, where he hit two stunning tweener winners in the same game. But he was unable to find enough consistency against Cecchinato, who triumphed in one hour and 33 minutes.

The former World No. 16 entered the week with an 0-11 record at all levels this year, but he has now won three matches in Geneva, including qualifying, without losing a set. Cecchinato, who saved all seven break points he faced against Thiem, will next play Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, who defeated eighth seed Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3 on Sunday.

In other Day Two action, former World No. 7 Richard Gasquet cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win against Australian John Millman. The Frenchman will challenge Daniil Medvedev in the World No. 2’s first clay-court match of the year following a hernia procedure.

Seventh seed Federico Delbonis also moved on with a 6-4 6-4 victory against Lithuanian wild card Ricardas Berankis, while 2021 Winston-Salem champion Ilya Ivashka rallied past American Marcos Giron 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.