Qualified Cinà beats Opelka to win his first Grand Slam match in five on debut

Federico Cinà, the 19-year-old Italian qualifier playing the first Grand Slam main-draw match of his career, came through Reilly Opelka 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4 at Roland-Garros on Sunday, saving three break points in the final game before sealing his place in the second round.

The Palermo-born teenager, ranked No. 238 in the world, was 0-40 down on his own serve at 5-4 in the deciding set – three points from being broken back, three points from a sixth set still to play. He held. The win was his first at Grand Slam level, on his first attempt, and came through three rounds of qualifying earlier in the week.

Born on 30 March 2007, Cinà is the first male player from his birth year to contest the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament, doing so as a qualifier. He is coached by his father, Francesco Cinà.

Opelka, the 28-year-old American ranked No. 75, had taken the opening set and looked the more comfortable player on a court that suited his serve. From there the match turned. Cinà broke back early in the second, levelled, then took control of the third. The fourth set tightened into a tie-break Opelka edged 8-6, forcing a decider that the Italian led from the start. He broke for 5-4 and walked out to serve for the match.

The hold that followed was the moment. Three break points came and went. Cinà closed it out with a confidence that belied the occasion.

He will play the winner of Stan Wawrinka against Jesper de Jong in the second round, with Wawrinka, the 41-year-old former world No. 3 in his last Roland-Garros, the more familiar name on the other side.