Defending champion Klizan crashes out in Kitzbuhel

A champion last year, Martin Klizan could not get past a qualifier in his first-round match at the Generali Open on Monday.

Martin Klizan, the 2018 Generali Open champion.

Martin Klizan's title defence failed to clear the first hurdle as he lost his first-round Generali Open clash in Austria on Monday.

Klizan's sixth and most recent ATP Tour triumph saw him beat Denis Istomin in the 2018 final but, 12 months on, a match of three tie-breaks saw him denied by qualifier Matthias Bachinger.

The Slovakian broke in the opening game of the match and led again later in the first set but saw Bachinger respond.

Klizan won the second and held off a match point in the third yet came up short in another tie-break, falling to an agonising 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-4) defeat.

There were three sets and three tie-breaks, too, as Lorenzo Sonego - the only seeded player involved on Monday - defeated Federico Delbonis.

Sonego needed three hours and 36 minutes but got the job done in a marathon contest, setting up a clash with Roberto Carballes Baena, who came from behind to defeat Hugo Dellien.

Jeremy Chardy came through an incredible back-and-forth against Marco Cecchinato, sharing nine converted break points across two sets, while Dennis Novak beat fellow wild card Jurij Rodionov.