Tennis star Valentin Vacherot falls in marathon Madrid opener despite holding match points
Monaco's Valentin Vacherot lost a gruelling three-hour battle to American Emilio Nava in his Madrid Masters opener, despite holding three match points.
Valentin Vacherot's impressive Monte-Carlo Masters run came to an abrupt halt in Madrid, where the Monégasque tennis player suffered a heartbreaking first-round defeat on Friday.
The rising star, who reached the semi-finals on home soil at Monte-Carlo just weeks ago, couldn't maintain that momentum against American opponent Emilio Nava. After a marathon three-hour encounter, Vacherot fell 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in what proved to be a match of fine margins.
The defeat was particularly cruel for the Monaco player, who held three match points during the contest but couldn't convert any of them. The loss means Vacherot's clay court season takes a setback just as the tour moves towards the French Open.
Despite this disappointment in the Spanish capital, Vacherot's breakthrough performance at Monte-Carlo earlier this year demonstrated his potential on the clay courts, setting up what should be an intriguing summer campaign.