Sebastian Baez battled past Lorenzo Sonego 7-5 7-6 (7-3) after 2 hours and 15 minutes to advance to the second round at the Tennis Napoli Cup.
Baez broke twice and fired 23 winners improving his win-loss record to 1-2 in his head-to-head matches against Sonego.
Baez earned his first break in the second game, but Sonego broke back in the eighth game. Sonego saved the first break point in the 11th game, but Baez converted his second chance in the 11th game to win the first set 7-5.
Sonego went down 15-40 down in the seventh game, but he won four consecutive points to saved two break points to hold serve at deuce. Baez earned an early mini-break in the first game. Sonego pulled back on serve, but Baez won five of the next seven points with two mini-breaks to seal the tie-break 7-3.
Baez set up a second round match against either Chinese quaiifier Zhizhen Zhang or Marton Fucsovics.
Corentin Moutet came back from one set down to beat Luca Nardi 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 after 3 hours and 32 minutes. Nardi is currently ranked 12th in the ATP Race to Milan.
Moutet earned an immediate break in the first game. Nardi broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 1-1. Nardi saved three break points at 4-4, but Moutet converted his fourth chance, when Nardi made a backhand error. Nardi earned two mini-breaks to take a 5-2 lead, but Moutet pulled back on serve. Nardi won the final two points to seal the tie-break 9-7.
Moutet earned his first break in the fourth game of the second set. Nardi broke back in the seventh game to draw level to 4-4. Moutet earned a double mini-break to take a 5-1 lead in the tie-break. Nardi pulled one min-break back, but Moutet won the final two points to close out the second-set tie-break 7-3. Moutet broke twice in the third and seventh games to seal the third set 6-3.
