Thiago Monteiro beat Stefano Travaglia 6-3, 7-6 in Szczecin, edging a second set that could have gone either way. The Brazilian won more points overall, 78 to 66, and saved four of the five break points he faced against three of five for Travaglia.
The opening set was a trading of blows: Monteiro broke at 1-0, 2-1, 4-1, 5-2 and again at 6-3, with Travaglia hitting back at 1-1, 4-2 and 5-3 before the set slipped away. The second was even messier on serve, with breaks exchanged at 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4 and 4-4; Travaglia broke at 5-6 to force a tie-break, only for Monteiro to break back at 6-6 and take it.
The numbers behind the win sit on the second serve: Monteiro landed 24 of 25 second serves (96%) and won 14 of 25 points on them, against 12 of 27 for Travaglia. The Italian actually hit more aces, 7 to 5, but three double faults and the weaker break-point defence cost him.