At the end of a very long match that ended at the end of the evening, the French Constant Lestienne went through the first round of the ATP 250 tournament in San Diego, California on Monday, beating the American wild card Brandon Holt, son of the former world number 1 Tracy Austin (5-7, 7-6, 6-3 in 2h42).
– –
Lestienne led 4-2 in each set, against this 24-year-old opponent who is playing better than his ranking indicates. Holt is 215 at the ATP, but that’s because he finished his schooling before joining professional tennis. He also beat Taylor Fritz in the first round of the last US Open. And he could very well have eliminated Lestienne. After two points from the defeat, 5 points anywhere in the tie-break of the second set, the Parisian then quickly widened the gap in the last round.
– –
Three titles and two Challenger finals this year
At the age of thirty, for the first time in his career, Lestienne was admitted directly to a tournament on the main circuit, without having to go through qualifying, thanks to the best ranking of his life, which he currently holds (76th this week, one ranking behind his record, which dates back to 22 August). This is the fruit of his excellent results in the events of the second professional division, the Challengers, where in 2022 he has three titles, two finals and three times!
– –
This is his seventh appearance at this level (the first six times he was qualified or lucky loser) and it is only his second win on the main circuit (after the one against the Estonian Zopp, in Metz, in 2018). In the next round, Constant Lestienne will face the winner of the match scheduled for Tuesday between the American Steve Johnson and the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
– –
