First round: Valentin rides the crest of a wave
Vacherot puts on a masterclass to beat Lehecka and set up a meeting with his cousin.
Valentin Vacherot was untouchable; Jiri Lehecka was dumbfounded. In a mere 54 minutes, the Shanghai champion (albeit the surprise champion there) overwhelmed the world No.18 6-1, 6-3 to reach the second round where his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech (the man he beat in the Shanghai final), is waiting for him.
Usually, first-time title winners tend to have a dip in form after their moment of glory as they take in what they have achieved. Not Vacherot. With his trophy tucked in his kitbag, he is having the time of his life.
“I’m living a fairytale,” he said, beaming from ear to ear. “The fairytale didn’t stay in Shanghai. I’m just surfing on the confidence, living the dream. That’s why I’m playing so well.”
As for playing Rinderknech again, he could not wait: “I’m just so proud of both of us, proud of the way Arthur played Fabian [Marozsan in the first round], the way he fought. I’m so excited for everyone, for the family.”
Serving with not a care in the world (83 per cent of first serve and 80 per cent of second serve points won), returning with venom and accuracy and cracking winners off both flanks, he did not give Lehecka a hint of a chance. He was brilliant from first ball to last and there was nothing the Czech could do about it.
Canada’s day
Félix Auger-Aliassime kept his hopes of reaching the Nitto ATP Tour Final alive with a tense, at times painful, 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-3 win over Francisco Comesana. Sitting ninth in the race for the eight places in Turin, he has a lot of work to do this week but he completed his first task in two hours and 20 minutes.
Last week in Basel, he had to retire with back and knee issues in the quarter-finals and against Comesana, there was a fair amount of wincing and grimacing. But once the first set was done, the Canadian gritted his teeth and, despite the aches and pains, he began to take charge. He now plays Alexandre Müller.
Felix’s countryman, Gabriel Diallo, fired 11 aces past Talon Griekspoor in his 73-minute morning work-out as eased into the second round 6-3, 6-4. Now he has the lightning-fast Alex De Minaur standing in his way, and De Minaur will have the bit between his teeth. The Australian is seventh in the race to the ATP Finals and is desperate to bank ranking points to secure his ticket to Turin.
Don’t cry for Argentina
On the next-door court, the Argentine fans were in good voice as they watched their two heroes, Camilo Ugo Carabelli and Tomas Martin Etcheverry fight for the right to play Alexander Zverev in the next round. In the end, Ugo won 7-5, 6-3 after an hour and 55 minutes. Argentina had its winner.