Marco Cecchinato, lion-hearted: relives past magic in BMW Open quarter-finals at Barletta

Barletta woke up to that special scent that only certain spring afternoons can bring, but today the air feels different. It's charged with electricity. The Trofeo Lapietra, what we locals affectionately call the Open della Disfida, has hit its stride, and the main draw is serving up thrills that even the most optimistic fans didn't see coming. And right at the heart of it all is him: Marco Cecchinato.

I know, I know, it feels like stepping back in time, back when his arm seemed like a magic wand and his down-the-line backhand was a work of art. But this isn't nostalgia, because what I'm seeing these days on the red clay of Barletta isn't a replay, it's fresh, real-time magic. Cecchinato is here, and he's fired up. After a season of ups and downs, the embrace of the Puglian soil seems to have reignited that spark in him.

A textbook start against a veteran

The first round immediately set the tone. Standing across the net was a tough opponent in Philipp Kohlschreiber. The German, born in '83, built his career on clay – a wall that's tough to crack. But Cecchinato delivered a smart, patient performance. He grabbed the match by the scruff of the neck, made him run, and unleashed that famous inside-out forehand that makes you jump out of your seat when it lands. That was that, first hurdle cleared with the confidence of someone who knows these courts are his home turf.

Quarter-finals: the clash with Fucsovics

Now though, the bar is raised. Tomorrow (or tonight, depends on the order of play, but word is it'll be the session's main event) comes the quarter-final: Marco Cecchinato (Italy) vs Márton Fucsovics (Hungary). If you want to know if Marco's resurgence is just a flash in the pan or the real deal, this is the ultimate test.

Fucsovics is no pushover. He's a top-50 calibre player, a physical beast, someone who hits hard and never gives up. For me, the match hinges entirely on Cecchinato's ability to handle the Hungarian's power. If Marco can drag him into long rallies, using his rhythm and touch, then his chances are huge. If he lets Fucsovics dictate with his forehand, it becomes a steep uphill climb. But these days, there's a focus in Marco's eyes that I haven't seen for a long time. He seems to have rediscovered that pleasure of grinding it out on court, that effort which, for an Italian tennis player on this surface, becomes almost a pleasure.

Why this tournament means more than just a trophy

I don't want to get all philosophical, but there's something special about Barletta. Word is the welcome he's received these past few days has been incredible, and seeing the stands filling up half an hour before his match, I can well believe it. The crowd packs the stands, there's an old-school tennis atmosphere in the air. Marco Cecchinato, in this setting, is more than just a player: he's a symbol. For those of us who followed his amazing 2018 run, watching him fight point for point under the Puglian sun brings a satisfaction that goes beyond the result.

• The home-court advantage: Playing on home soil, with the crowd behind you, is no small advantage. The "Forza Marco" echoing around the courts makes a difference in the crunch moments.
• The surface: Barletta's clay, a bit slower than some others, suits his game of variation and heavy balls perfectly.
• The mindset: It might sound cliché for a player like him, but it's the most important aspect. This week, he seems calm, liberated. And when Marco is calm, he can genuinely beat anyone.

And so, as the BMW Open (which, for those who don't know, is one of those tournaments that perfectly blends the brand's elegance with the passion of our tennis) enters its most thrilling phase, I'm holding onto this feeling. Tomorrow will be a battle. Fucsovics is ready to shatter the home dream, but Cecchinato has on his side the desire to prove that some fires, when they're genuine, never truly die out. Tune in, or better yet, come down to the club. Because when Marco gets into his stride, it's a spectacle you won't want to miss.