Lacko Upsets Schwartzman In Eastbourne

Slovakian Lukas Lacko recorded the biggest win of his career on Wednesday when he knocked out Diego Schwartzman, currently a career-high No. 11 in the ATP Rankings, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 at the Nature Valley International. His previous best victory had come in February 2011 at San Jose against No. 17-ranked Sam Querrey in the first round.

Schwartzman came within one point of taking a 3-0 lead in the deciding set before a tense finish. Lacko clinched his second match point chance in a 12-point final game, which ended with the World No. 94 forcing his Argentinean opponent into a forehand error.

Schwartzman has yet to win a match on grass courts (0-7). Lacko, who captured his 12th ATP Challenger Tour title (12-12) in May this year in Glasgow (d. Vanni), will next face a Briton in lucky loser Jay Clarke or wild card Cameron Norrie.

Marco Cecchinato made his breakthrough on the spring European clay-court swing, but on Wednesday at Devonshire Park, the Italian recorded the first grass-court win of his career, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 over 2015 finalist Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, for a place in the quarter-finals. He will now prepare to face fifth-seeded Argentine Leonardo Mayer or John Millman of Australia on Thursday.

Cecchinato clinched his first ATP World Tour title on 29 April at the Gazprom Hungarian Open (d. Millman) and earlier this month reached the Roland Garros semi-finals (l. to Thiem).

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