Thiem still waiting for first win since injury
DOMINIC Thiem was left waiting for a first win of 2022 as Marco Cecchinato beat him in straight sets at the Geneva Open.
Cecchinato completed a 6-3, 6-4 victory as the Austrian failed to secure a morale booster ahead of the French Open, which starts next week.
The 2020 US Open champion missed the second half of last season due to a wrist injury.
The former world No.3 returned to action at an ATP Challenger Tour event in March but has yet to taste victory in six outings.
Thiem overcame Cecchinato at Roland Garros four years ago to reach his first major final, but there were clear signs of rust from the 28-year-old as the Italian triumphed in one hour and 33 minutes.
Cecchinato, who saved all seven break points against him, meets Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak next.
Richard Gasquet cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 success over John Millman to set up a clash with Daniil Medvedev.
It will be world No.2 Medvedev’s first clay-court match of the year following a hernia procedure.
No.7 seed Federico Delbonis progressed with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Lithuanian wild card Ricardas Berankis, while Ilya Ivashka recovered to beat
Marcos Giron 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Meanwhile, The ATP Tour has confirmed that Queen’s and Eastbourne tournaments will go ahead next month, despite its opposition to Wimbledon banning Russian and Belarusian players.
Russian and Belarusian players were last month banned from competing at this year’s Wimbledon due to the invasion of
Ukraine, a decision which both the WTA and ATP criticised.
The WTA has yet to comment on its events this summer.
But the ATP released a statement saying: “Following extensive consultation with the Player Council and Tournament Council, the ATP Board has today confirmed that this season’s ATP Tour events in Queen’s and Eastbourne will proceed as normal, offering full ATP rankings points.
“LTA’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes is however contrary to ATP rules and undermines the ability for players of any nationality to enter tournaments based on merit, and without discrimination – a fundamental principle of the ATP Tour.
Meanwhile, former British No.1 Laura Robson has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 28 following three hip operations and ongoing injury problems.