Baghdatis Falls In Bucharest; Verdasco Wins

Marcos Baghdatis was denied the 300th match win of his career on Tuesday at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy. Marco Cecchinato saved all four break points he faced to defeat the fifth seed 6-2, 6-4 in 75 minutes. He’ll next face Damir Dzumhur, who last week qualified for the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and reached the third round (l. to Raonic).

Seventh seed Paolo Lorenzi recorded his 10th victory of the year by beating Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-4 in 84 minutes. Later in the day, former World No. 7 Fernando Verdasco – returning to the tournament for the first time since 2006, hit 18 aces to scrap past qualifier Aldin Setkic 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-5 in two hours and 34 minutes.

Top seed Bernard Tomic will open his campaign at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament against Robin Haase, who overcame qualifier Andrea Arnaboldi 7-6(4), 6-4 in one hour and 48 minutes.

“It was a long match, even for clay,” said Haase. “I was lucky to be two breaks up in the first set, but then he came back and it was totally different. I should have won that set 6-3 or maybe 6-4. But then I got the tie-break and I came back from a break down in the second. I’m pleased with the victory.”

Second seed Ivo Karlovic will face Lucas Pouille, who overcame Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4. Karlovic is one match win away from 300 victories.

“I am happy right now,” said Pouille. “It is never easy to enter a tournament after a good week in Monte-Carlo, especially against Dusan who I lost to twice already. It wasn’t a high-quality match but I tried to do simple things, to serve well and to be solid during important points.”