Sonego Begins Metz Campaign
Fifth seed Lorenzo Sonego’s career-best season continued Monday at the Moselle Open as he defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-2 to secure his 25th tour-level win of the year and reach the second round in Metz.
The Italian, who was competing for the first time since a first-round exit at the US Open three weeks ago, hit with consistent depth and won 73 per cent (19/26) of his first-serve points to advance after 73 minutes.
“I was really focused today,” Sonego said in his on-court interivew. “Marton is a great player and it was a tough match today. I liked my tennis and I am really happy. I am confident because this year has been my best. I am now No. 24 in the world, which is my best ranking. I have played my best tennis this year.”
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Sonego has now levelled his ATPHead2Head Series with Fucsovics at 2-2 and will next face Danish qualifier Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune or a lucky loser.
“I like the atmosphere here because it is dark and it is nice,” Sonego added. “I like playing here, this is my second time. Two years ago I lost in the second round and I want to do better.”
The World No. 24 captured his second ATP Tour title on home soil in Cagliari in April, before advancing to the final on grass in Eastbourne. The 26-year-old’s previous best season was in 2019 when he notched 20 tour-level victories.
Fucsovics, who was making his third main draw appearance in Metz, advanced to his first ATP 500 final in Rotterdam in March and enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in July.
Eighth-seeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili also advanced, defeating Italian Gianluca Mager 6-3, 7-6(5). The World No. 36, who has won tour-level titles in Doha and Munich this year, will next face Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or three-time Metz champion Gilles Simon.
Canada’s Vasek Pospisil booked his spot in the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over French wild card Gregoire Barrere. The 31-year-old will next play sixth seed Ugo Humbert or former World No. 1 Andy Murray.