Tennis: Valentin Vacherot Falls in the First Round at Kitzbühel Against Quentin Halys

Always in search of thrills, Monegasque Valentin Vacherot entered the ATP 250 in Kitzbühel, Austria this week. However, seeded No. 2, the player from the Principality was eliminated in his first match by Frenchman Quentin Halys.

The bad streak continues for Valentin Vacherot. Hindered by a stress fracture in his foot and bone edema sustained in Rome in May, which flared up at the second round of Roland-Garros, the Monegasque player is trying to regain his form before the start of the American swing. Returning to competition in Gstaad last week, he managed to win a round before losing to Raphaël Collignon (24 years old, 37th in the world). A rather encouraging comeback on which the player wished to build.

It was therefore in Kitzbühel, on clay, that his adventure continued this Wednesday. Unfortunately for him, the Austrian stay was brief. Against Frenchman Quentin Halys (29 years old, 83rd in the world), the Monegasque largely suffered from his opponent’s forehand attacks. Without losing ground in the first set, notably by creating a few break opportunities, Valentin Vacherot never managed to capitalize in the important moments. Dominated by a Quentin Halys in top form, particularly with his forehand after a quarter of an hour of play, there was nothing to be done: 6-3.

The second set was very similar to the first. Despite playing well, the player from the Principality could do nothing against the Frenchman, who secures his fifth victory over a top 20 member this season. Final score: 6-3, 6-4. But no need to worry about Valentin Vacherot, whose tennis level seems increasingly encouraging as the weeks go by despite a truncated preparation and a completely disrupted schedule.

The important thing will be to get off to a good start on the American swing with the Washington tournament, the Masters 1000 in Canada and Cincinnati, before continuing with the US Open at the end of August. The Asian swing will follow, the land of his feat last year, where he will have enormous points to defend to remain in the world top 20.