Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic returns a shot to Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics during their quarter-final match of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2020 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Penins
Young Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic yesterday showed the exit to plucky Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics to reach the semi-finals of the $1.5m Qatar ExxonMobil Open seconds before rains drove the players off the courts.
Kecmanovic, a ‘friend’ of World No.2 Novak Djokovic, produced a commanding show to win 6-2, 6-0 in just 59 minutes of play on the Center Court.
With Russia’s Andrey Rublev and Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert set to start their warm-ups for their quarter-finals, rains caused another delay.
Organisers eventually postponed all three remaining quarter-finals for today afternoon because of consistent drizzle.
The remaining three quarter-finals and the scheduled semi-finals will be played today, organisers confirmed yesterday.
The 20-year-old broke Fucsovics three times in the first set - in games 1, 5 and 7 - before completely dominating the Hungarian player in the second set.
Kecmanovic fired 6 aces in the match, a first for the two young players on the ATP Tour.
With rain starting to fall on Center Court, Kecmanovic wrapped the match without dropping serve in the second set,
“Yeah, it was pretty good timing. Good thing that I was able to finish before this (rain) happened,” Kecmanovic said after walking into the press box with an umbrella in hand.
“I’m definitely looking forward to coming out again and to playing my best game,” the Serbian added.
Kecmanovic said he trained with Djokovic and tennis icon Roger Federer during the off-season.
“Yeah, I was practicing with Roger and Novak and Karen, too, so it was definitely a good group of guys to practice with,” Kecmanovic said. The young enterprising Serbian said he had improved his game.
“I definitely think I’ve maybe improved up my game a little bit because they take time away for you. I think I’ve kind of got a little bit used to it and maybe it’s now a little bit easier to play against some of the other guys,” Kecmanovic said without naming players.
“There are definitely things I still have to work on,” he added.
“Yeah, definitely it wasn’t a big trip. I was in Dubai for a month, so definitely starting to feel at home here,” Kecmanovic said about playing in Doha.
“I’m feeling good. You know, I’m playing good. Hopefully I can keep it up,” he added.
Kecmanovic said he doesn’t regret not playing the ATP Cup in Australia, an event that has clashed with the dates of the Doha leg of the ATP Tour.
“It would be good if I made it, but I didn’t, so I can’t really be mad about it. The guys in front of me are better, so I can’t really say anything about it,” Kecmanovic said.
“I think it’s -- maybe for some countries because the second (best) players and all the rest are way off the rankings. So maybe they have a bit of advantage over some of us who are top 100 but can’t play,” the Serbian added.
“It just means I have to do better next year I guess,” he added quickly.
“Was there wind today? I don’t know,” Kecmanovic said when asked about the playing conditions. “I didn’t feel it (the wind) on court. I actually thought it was perfect today. Like, it wasn’t hot. It wasn’t windy for me. I thought it was perfect. You know, up until the rain started, I felt good,” he added.
Miomir Kecmanovic in 2019
Age: 20, World No. 62, 24-22 in 2019 (Antalya Final), 3-1 at Doha (2020 SF)
• Last year reached quarter-finals or better in four tournaments and went 2-2 in QF matches. First QF in Doha.
• Achieved new career-high ranking 15 times, breaking into Top 100 and Top 50. Peaked at No. 47 on September 9.
• Advanced to 1st ATP Tour SF and final at Antalya (Defeated Thompson in 3 TBs, Lost to Sonego after holding 1 MP).
• Defeated Ruud and Davidovich Fokina to qualify for Next Gen ATP Finals SF (Lost to eventual champion Sinner).
• Reached QFs at ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells as LL (Lost to Raonic) and Atlanta (Lost to Fritz).
• Qualified at ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati and beat No. 6 A. Zverev for biggest career win (Lost to Bautista Agut in 3R).
• Posted 1st Grand Slam win at Roland Garros (Defeated Kudla in 5 sets, Lost to Goffin in 2R).
• Earned 1st ATP Tour win of career at Brisbane as Q (Defeated Mayer, Lost to Raonic in 2R). Finished season with 24 wins.
• Also qualified at Australian Open (Lost to Verdasco in 1R) and Budapest (Lost to Millman in 1R).
• Retired in Wimbledon 2R vs. Paire (Right ankle) and Dallas, USA Challenger 2R vs. E. King (Illness).
