FRANCAVILLA AL MARE – At the ATP Challenger in Francavilla al Mare (prize money of 75 thousand euros), the first day is dedicated to the matches of the first round of the qualifying draw. The large audience present on the three playing fields witnessed the Italian victories of Arnaboldi, Giannessi and Guerrieri while Compagnucci, Campana, Rottoli, Giustino, Iannaccone, Pieri, Piatti, Bagnolini, Pennaforti and Ferrari left the scene. Nothing to be done for the Marche Compagnucci (n.506) eliminated by the Dutch Den Ouden (n.348) by 57/62/62 despite a brilliant first set. The success of the 23 year old from Cantù Federico Arnaboldi (n.619) was clear as he beat the Roman Federico Campana (n.1115) in two sets, 64/62. Green disc also for the Ligurian left-handed Alessandro Giannessi (n.315), finalist in the first edition of 2017 and former n.84 in the world ranking, who prevailed over Rottoli with a score of 62/64. Iannaccone from Molise surrendered with honor, facing the talented Frenchman Debru, a student of the Piatti Academy, who won with a double 62.
The gap between the Monegasque Rocco Piatti, son of coach Riccardo, and the Swiss Wenger who prevailed 60/62 was wide. The young Indian Manas Dhamne will also compete for a place in the main draw, followed by Riccardo Piatti, victorious 63/61 over the 35-year-old Japanese Ito.
From tomorrow the tournament comes to life with the second round matches of the qualifying tournament. Starting from 11:00, Den Ouden-Elias, Giannessi-Dhamne, Moeller-Arnaboldi F., Guerrieri-Added and Wenger-Debru will be played. The winners will enter the main draw as qualifiers.
However, there are six first round matches in the main draw. Tournament director Gianluigi Quinzi has, in fact, scheduled for the afternoon: Agamenone-Travaglia, Andreev-Blanch D., Cecchinato-Weis; Crawford-Kasnikowski; Dellien Velasco-Pellegrino; Gakhov-Berrettini J.
The main match is certainly the one between the Ascoli native Stefano Travaglia (n.196), winner of the Francavilla tournament in 2019, and the Italian-Argentinian Franco Agamennone (n.220) but the debut of the American teenager Darwin Blanch. Darwin, at 14 years and 5 months, had already achieved an ATP point, becoming the first player born in 2007 to reach this milestone. His three brothers, Ulises (ranking n.484), Dali (18 years old) and Krystal (17 years old), are also good level tennis players.
Photo Ekuonews
