Marco Cecchinato’s unstoppable run continues during this memorable week at the Aspria Harbour Club, as he secures a spot in the final of the ATP Challenger in Milan. As the only Italian competing in today’s semifinals, he flew the flag high by defeating the Brazilian player Heide.
Tomorrow at 11:00 AM (live on Supertennis), Cecchinato faces Diaz Acosta in a bid for a historic third title at the Aspria Tennis Cup-Trofeo BCS, having previously triumphed in 2016 and last year. It is a clash between former champions, given that the Argentine also won the tournament here in 2023.
The Matches
Marco Cecchinato’s match against Gustavo Heide could have held many pitfalls, but the Italian played a perfect game, effectively neutralizing the Brazilian “powerhouse.” A lanky player relying on a big serve and forehand, Heide is currently enjoying the best form of his career, having just reached a career-high ranking (No. 133 as of Monday) and secured two Challenger-level victories in the last two months. He is a player full of confidence, yet he was immediately confronted by Cecchinato’s determination and competitive ferocity.
The player from Palermo stormed onto the court, playing flawlessly and catching his opponent off guard, fueled by the raucous Milan crowd. The 6-1 scoreline perfectly captures the nature of the first set. In the second set, the Brazilian’s attempted comeback failed to shake Cecchinato’s resolve; at the crucial moment with the score tied at 5-5, Marco struck the decisive blow, breaking serve to clinch both the match and a spot in the final.
“It was really tough today against an opponent playing with such confidence and winning so much lately. I did a great job starting strong and making very few errors in the first set, and then staying composed in the second,” Cecchinato commented after the match. He is developing a special bond with Milan: “I feel right at home here; this is my third final. So many people come to watch me, and the crowd is fantastic. I’ll be back on court tomorrow and will give it my all to win the title for the third time.”
Facing him in a clash of former tournament champions will be the Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta, who defeated the Spaniard Rincon in three sets. It was a battle between two left-handers; Rincon started better but was ultimately overwhelmed by fatigue following his grueling match against Comesana yesterday (which lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes). After a grueling two-hour, 47-minute match, Diaz Acosta ultimately prevailed: “Conditions were tough today; it was extremely hot. I’m happy to have reached my second final here in Milan; tomorrow’s match against Cecchinato will be incredibly difficult,” he said after the game.
Cecchinato (ITA) def. Heide (BRA): 6-1, 7-5
Diaz Acosta (ARG) def. Rincon (ESP): 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
The Final
Sunday, July 5th, promises to be an exciting day at the Aspria Harbour Club in Milan, with the grand final between Cecchinato and Diaz Acosta kicking off at 11:00 AM.
Admission to the club is ticketed. Fans can already book seats in the stands at the Aspria Harbour Club (Via Cascina Bellaria); tickets—including those for the new Hospitality Area—are available via the Ticketone network. Alternatively, a ticket office is open on-site at the club.
The final will be broadcast live on SuperTennis and streamed live on Challenger TV.
