In a contest between two former champions at the ATP 250 event in Kitzb\u00fchel, Baez prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to notch his first win in four tour-level encounters with Kecmanovic. The 2023 titlist Baez was only able to convert three of 13 break points he earned, according to ATP Stats, but was nonetheless able to complete his triumph over 2020 champion Kecmanovic after one hour and 49 minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure to come back because I love this place,\u201d Baez, a former No. 18 player in the ATP Rankings, said in his on-court interview. \u201cI love the people, the crowd, the court, the city, everything\u2026 We know each other [well], for many years. I think the key today was to be there every time on all the points and to be focused, because here with the altitude sometimes it is hard to control the ball. I think today I handled it very well, so I\u2019m happy to be in the next round,\u201d he was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Baez, who defeated home favourite Dominic Thiem to clinch the 2023 crown in the Austrian Alps, will take on third seed Arthur Rinderknech for a spot in this year\u2019s quarterfinals. The 25-year-old Argentine is now 20-16 for the 2026 season, a tally which includes a run to the Auckland championship match in January.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure to come back because I love this place,\u201d Baez, a former No. 18 player in the ATP Rankings, said in his on-court interview. \u201cI love the people, the crowd, the court, the city, everything\u2026 We know each other [well], for many years. I think the key today was to be there every time on all the points and to be focused, because here with the altitude sometimes it is hard to control the ball. I think today I handled it very well, so I\u2019m happy to be in the next round,\u201d he was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marco Trungelliti and Quentin Halys both kick-started their Kitzb\u00fchel campaigns with straight-sets wins. Trungelliti sank eighth seed Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 6-1 to set a second-round meeting with Yannick Hanfmann, while Halys prevailed 7-6(4), 6-4 against Laslo Djere. Frenchman Halys will take on second seed Valentin Vacherot next.<\/p>\r\n\r\n