Cecchinato’s elevates big year with another final in Croatia

UMAG, Croatia (AP) Marco Cecchinato elevated his breakthrough year by reaching the Croatia Open final on Saturday.

The third-seeded Cecchinato dispatched Argentine qualifier Marco Trungelliti, a first-time semifinalist, 6-2, 6-1.

He will play another Argentine, the unseeded Guido Pella, who has reached his first career final after beating sixth-seeded Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.

Cecchinato won his first ATP title in April in Budapest, as a lucky loser, then knocked out Novak Djokovic en route to the French Open semifinals. He was the first Italian male Grand Slam semifinalist in 40 years.

He's at a career-high ranking of 27, and set to go higher after facing Pella for the first time.