Tennis: Pecotic and Asciak Progress in Singles, Curmi & Genovese Victorious in Doubles

Matija Pecotic and Matthew Asciak both progressed to the next round in Men’s Singles. Meanwhile, in Women’s Doubles Maltese duo Francesca Curmi and Elaine Genovese made short work of San Marino’s pairing to also progress to the next round.

Pecotic’s Resounding Victory & Asciak’s Comeback

In Men’s Singles, Malta’s Matija Pecotic outclassed Andorra’s Damien Gelabert in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2. The match was followed by a three-set thriller between Malta’s Matthew Asciak and San Marino’s Marco De Rossi. De Rossi got off to a flying start breaking Asciak in the opening two service games and backing them up with solid holds to take the first set 6-2. However, the Maltese veteran clawed his way back in the second set, to take it by a single break, 6-4. Having overturned the momentum of the match and with the wind firmly in his sails, Asciak delighted the home crowd to a resounding 6-1 victory in the deciding set.  

Progression in Singles

Luxembourg’s Raphael Calzi and Alex Knaff, Monaco’s Lucas Catarina and Valentin Vacherot and Cyprus’ Petros Chrysochos also progressed in straight sets. Catarina and Vacherot also teamed up to beat San Marino’s Chapman and De Rossi in the Men’s Doubles. Cyprus’ pair Kyratzis and Neos also proceed to the next round after beating Andorra’s Cervos and Gelabert.

Several players also competed in the Women’s Singles first round, where San Marino’s Talita Giardi, Cyprus’ Maria Constantinou and Luxembourg’s Eleonora Molinaro proceed to the next rounds.

Curmi & Genovese Seal Victory in Straight Sets

In Women’s Doubles, there was also a highly anticipated matchup between Malta’s Francesca Curmi and Elaine Genovese and San Marino’s duo of Giardi and Baldacci. Though Malta’s pairing got off to a slightly nervy start, there was no stopping them as they got into their groove and sealed the victory in straight sets of 6-2, 6-1. Meanwhile, Luxembourg’s Molinaro and Weckerie dispatched Cyprus’ pair Ioannou and Constantinou. 

Day 3 Commitments

Matthew Asciak and Lucas Catarina will commence Men’s Singles proceedings at 10 am in Court 19 on Wednesday, followed by Luxembourg’s Raphael Calzi taking on Malta’s Matija Pecotic. The two matches will be followed by the Women’s Singles matchup between Malta’s flag-bearer Elaine Genovese and Luxembourg’s Eleonora Molinaro.

The final match on Court 19 will be that of the Men’s Doubles as Malta’s Matthew Asciak and Matija Pecotic will contest Luxembourg’s Raphael Calzi and Alex Knaff.

Francesca Curmi will also commence singles commitments on Wednesday, facing Cypriot Maria Constantinou on Court 1, which will follow the match between Andorra’s Victoria Jimenez and Cypriot Klio Maria Ionnaou starting at 10 am.

Photos: Deea Buzdugan / MOC