ATP Parma: Sebastian Korda and Marco Cecchinato set title clash

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The 20-year-old Sebastian Korda will compete in his second ATP title of the season in Parma following a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the fellow American Tommy Paul in an hour and 22 minutes. Sebastian is yet to lose a set in Parma this week, beating two seeded players en route to the semis and standing strong today against his good friend to advance into the title clash where he faces Marco Cecchinato on Saturday.

Korda fended off eight out of nine break chances and stole almost half of the return points to grab four breaks from five opportunities and seal the deal in style. Tommy was the better player in the opening six games, producing three comfortable holds and creating five break chances in three straight return games.

Staying calm, Sebastian fended off those and settled into a fine rhythm in the remaining games for a significant advantage. Korda saved two break points in the opening game and another at 1-1 to stay on the positive side. Returning at 2-2, Paul squandered two break chances and got punished at 3-4 when Korda broke at 15 to open a 5-3 advantage.

Serving for the set in game nine, the younger American saved a break point with a volley winner and sealed the set with a service winner for 6-3.

Sebastian Korda and Marco Cecchinato were victorious in Parma on Friday.

They traded breaks at the beginning of the second set and served well in the next four games to stay locked at 3-3.

Serving in game seven, Paul sprayed a forehand error to suffer a break at 15, with Sebastian opening a 5-3 lead with a service winner. Dominating in those moments, Korda sealed the deal with another break in game nine, rattling off four straight games to move over the top and move a win away from the first ATP crown.

Marco Cecchinato used a wild card with both hands, toppling Jaume Munar 7-6, 1-6, 6-1 in two hours and 40 minutes for his fifth ATP final. Marco won four points more than his rival, trailing 5-3 in the opening set and fending off a set point in game nine before gathering momentum and winning the tie break 7-2.

Jaume bounced back in style in set number two, producing four commanding holds and a double break to win it 6-1 and force a decider. The opening six games of the final set saw deuces, and it was Cecchinato who played better in the decisive moments, securing five of those and holding at 15 in game seven to advance into the title clash.