Seppi Saves 2 M.P. To Outlast Garin In Moscow

If the first main-draw match of the 2019 VTB Kremlin Cup is a preview of the week ahead, we are in for a dramatic seven days in Moscow.

Andreas Seppi saved two match points on Monday to overcome fifth seed Cristian Garin 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(4), converting his sixth match point to end the contest after two hours and 42 minutes. The 2012 champion, who improves to 15-5 at the ATP 250 event, recovered from 3-6, 5-6, 15/40 down to overcome the 23-year-old in their first FedEx ATP Head2Head encounter.

After rallying from 2-4 down in the decider, Seppi could not convert four match points of his own at 6-5. But the Italian held his nerve in the final-set tie-break, winning five of the final six points to advance. Seppi will face Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena or Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Czech qualifier Lukas Rosol also saved two match points in a thrilling 6-7(4), 7-6(7), 6-3 victory over Argentine Juan Ignacio Londero. Rosol fought back from 4/6 in the second-set tie-break en route to advancing in two hours and 16 minutes. Next up for the 34-year-old is fourth-seeded Serbian Dusan Lajovic.

Seventh-seeded Frenchman Adrian Mannarino cruised past 2017 champion Damir Dzumhur of Serbia 7-6(2), 6-0 in the evening session. Mannarino now leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 3-1, which includes a straight-sets victory at last month’s Huajin Securities Zhuhai Championships.