Photo: Ron C. Angle
Marcos is out of the Open de Nice Cote d’Azur after losing to Argentine Leonardo Mayer 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 Thursday in the quarter-finals of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tournament.
The 23-year-old Mayer was kept at bay by Marcos for a set and a half, as he saved 14 break points against the Argentine who had beaten fourth seed Thomaz Bellucci in the second round.
After saving seven break points in the first set, Marcos took his opportunity in the 12th game to break Mayer’s serve and seal a one-set lead. He then saved seven more break points in the early stages of the second set before Mayer finally converted on his 15th opportunity to take a 4-3 lead as Marcos hit a forehand long. Buoyed by his breakthrough, the Argentine then levelled the match with a second break of serve in the ninth game.
Marcos again found himself under ceaseless pressure in the third set as Mayer continued to attack his serve and earn break point chances. The pressure finally told in the 10th game as the Argentine broke to love to seal victory in just under three hours.
It was a good work out on the clay and a strong debut for Marcos in Nice ahead of the French Open, which begins on Sunday. Stay tuned for news of the main draw, which will be made in Paris tomorrow.
