Lorenzo Sonego fended off a championship point at 6-7 4-5 30-40 in his 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 win over Miomir Kecmanovic to clinch the first title of his career at the Turkish Open in Antalya.
Sonego earned six break points in the opening set (two in the 6th game, three in the the 10th game and one in the 12th game), but Kecmanovic saved all these chances.
In the tie-break Kecmanovic raced out to a 5-2 lead. Sonego won the next two points to claw his way back to 4-5, but Kecmanovic sealed the tie-break 7-5 on his second set point.
The second set went on serve with no breaks. Kecmanovic earned the only break point at 5-4 on the match point, but Sonego saved it with his first serve. Sonego won the tie-break 7-5 on his second set point.
The effort took its toll on Kecmanovic in the third set and Sonego got two consecutive breaks in the fifth and seventh games to cruise through to winning the third set 6-1. Thanks to this win Sonego will move up to his career-high at number 46 in the ATP Ranking. Sonego is the second Italian player to win a tournament on grass this year after Matteo Berrettini in Stuttgart. Two more players Marco Cecchinato and Fabio Fognini won two titles on clay respectively in Buenos Aires and Monte-Carlo.
Sonego has extended his win-loss record to 14-12 in the ATP Ranking. The Italian player beat two seeded players Adrian Mannarino in the quarter final and Pablo Carreno Busta in the semifinal.
“It is the first title and I am happy for my family, for my coach, for all the people who support me. I like playing on the grass. It was fun and I am ready for Wimbledon. It is a good chance for me because I have a good feeling now and I will try to do the best I can”, said Sonego.
