Andreas Seppi is back in Sofia with a win, Cecchinato left Sofia Open 2021

After a break for a year, Andreas Seppi started his fifth participation at Sofia Open with a win. The experienced Italian defeated Cem Ilkel (Tur) in the first qualifying round, 7:6 (3), 6:2.

Next, he will face Bulgarian wild card Aleksandar Donski. 23-years-old local surprised 8th seed J. Rodionov (Aus) 2:6, 6:1, 7:6 (4) and became the third Bulgarian with a win in the tournament history along with Grigor Dimitrov and Aleksandar Lazarov.

Former world № 16 Marco Cecchinato left Sofia Open 2021. The Italian was upset 3:6, 3:6 by Ilya Marchenko from Ukraine.

First seed Pedro Martinez had problems in the first set but rallied on after beating 7:5, 6:1 another Bulgarian wild card – Simon Antony Ivanov.

Qualifying Singles –

First Round

Qualifying – [1] P. Martinez (ESP) d [WC] S. Ivanov (BUL) 7:5, 6:1

Qualifying – I. Marchenko (UKR) d [2] M. Cecchinato (ITA) 6:3, 6:3

Qualifying – [3] A. Seppi (ITA) d C. Ilkel (TUR) 7:6(3), 6:2

Qualifying – [4] E. Gerasimov (BLR) d E. Donskoy (RUS) 6:3, 7:6(4)

Qualifying – A. Celikbilek (TUR) d [5] D. Galan (COL) 7:6(6), 4:6, 7:5

Qualifying – [6] K. Majchrzak (POL) d M. Cressy (USA) 4:6, 6:4, 6:3

Qualifying – [7] T. Machac (CZE) d K. Zuk (POL) 6:4, 6:2

Qualifying – [WC] A. Donski (BUL) d [8] J. Rodionov (AUT) 2:6, 6:1, 7:6(4)