#NextGenATP star saved six set points in second set

Martin Landaluce kept the faith with his big-hitting game to snap a six-match tour-level losing streak in impressive fashion on Thursday at the Cincinnati Open.

The #NextGenATP Spaniard downed former World No. 4 Jack Draper 6-3, 7-5 to book his second-round spot at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Ohio. Landaluce saved six set points while rallying from a double break down at 2-5 in the second set, expertly capitalising on a drop in level from Draper, who appeared to hit a physical wall in the Cincinnati heat.

“I think the important thing today was believing in my shots, believing in my game,” Landaluce said. “I did some big misses at times but that’s okay, because it is how I enjoy playing. At the end of the match I made some big shots and I really like playing like that. If I lose this way, I don’t care, but today I got the win and I’m really happy.”

Landaluce converted five of 12 break points he earned in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Draper, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The 20-year-old is now 8-4 for the season at Masters 1000 level, a tally which includes his quarter-final runs in Miami and Rome.

Currently third in the Next Gen ATP Live Race, Landaluce will take on 31st seed Matteo Arnaldi in the second round in Cincinnati.