Federico Cina is enjoying back-to-back weeks of his dream! The 17-year-old Italian reached the final at last week'sHersonissos 2 Challenger. The young gun took a long flight to Miami, entering the season's second Masters 1000 event with a wild card.
The Italian embraced his chance with both hands and prevailed over a qualifier Francisco Comesana 7-6, 7-6 in an hour and 47 minutes. Thus, Federico became the first player born in 2007 with a Masters 1000 victory on his tally!
Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Frances Tiafoe, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are also on that list, leading their generations toward the first Masters 1000 triumphs.
The young gun squandered the advantage in the opening set against Comesana and faced a set point in the 12th game. The 17-year-old saved it and claimed the tie break. Cina led 5-2 in the second set and created a match point on the return in game eight.
Francisco saved it and turned the tables, erasing the deficit and pulling the break back for more drama. However, Federico kept his composure and provided three mini-breaks to emerge at the top. The Argentine hit 33 winners and 31 unforced errors.
He hit more service winners, while a teenager erased the deficit from the baseline and at the net. The Italiantook more points in the shortest range up to four strokes, and Comesana bounced back in the mid-range and most advanced ones.
The young gun grabbed a break in the first game of the duel. Comesana pulled it back in game six and made another push on the return at 6-5. The Argentine wasted a set point after a loose forehand, allowing his rival to introduce a tie break.
Federico welcomed another forehand error from his rival in the fourth point. Hemoved3-1 up and seizedthe first set point at 6-5 with a service winner for a boost. The young gun grabbed a break in the fourth game of the second set and served well to move 5-2 up.
Unwilling to surrender, Comesana denied a match point on serve in game eight with a forehand winner. The 17-year-old served for the win in the next one and cracked under pressure, suffering a break at love and allowing his rival to extend the battle.
They served well in the remaining three games and introduced a tie break. They traded early mini-breaks, and Cina moved 3-2 up with a service winner. Comesana sprayed a forehand error in the sixth point to fall behind.
Francisco hit a double fault in the seventh point to propel his rival 5-2 in front. Federico generated four match points and converted the first with a forehand down the line winner, celebrating his first Masters 1000 victory at 17.
