COMO, September 1, 2015
The first round matches of the 10th edition of the Città di Como € 42,500 ATP Challenger concluded on Tuesday.
Gianluca Naso knocked off fourth seed Kenny de Schepper in the match of the day, winning three tie-break sets. The 28-year-old Italian withstood 12 aces of his opponent, fired eight of his own and converted four of his 14 break point chances to prevail in three hours and 16 minutes. Naso will take on Pedro Cachin next.
Maxime Teixeira replaced Como’s top-seed Daniel Muῆoz de la Nava, who withdrew due to knee injury, but lost his first round match 6-7, 3-6 against Daniel Brands. The world number 211 from Germany won 73% of his first service points to seal victory in one hour and 18 minutes. Brands will face Lorenzo Giustino next. The 23-year-old Italian defeated his fellow countryman Erik Crepaldi, winning 7-5, 6-4 in 89 minutes.
Second seed Andrey Kuznetsov, who claimed the title in Manerbio last Sunday, dismissed Hans Podlipnik-Castillo to open his Como campaign successfully. The world number 90 from Russia hit nine aces and saved all of the two break points he faced, winning 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 18 minutes. Kuznetsov will play Gastao Elias next. The 24-year-old Portuguese gained a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Franko Skugor in one hour and 18 minutes.
Spanish qualifier Carlos Gomez-Herrera upset sixth seed Farrukh Dustov, winning 6-1, 6-1 to reach the second round of an ATP Challenger event for the first time since Sevilla 2013. The world number 735 saved all of the six break points he faced and capitalized on five of his own to advance after 75 minutes to face with Italian Lorenzo Sonego another qualifier next.
Fifth seed Andrea Arnaboldi won the all-Italian-affair with Gianluca Mager. The world number 154 from Milan converted four of his eight break points to prevail after two hours and six minutes, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to face Riccardo Bonadio next.
The tournament’s number seven Andrej Martin defeated Filippo Volandri, winning 7-5, 6-3. The 25-year-old Slovakian hit five aces, won 58% of his first services to advance after one hour and 31 minutes to meet his fellow countryman Jozef Kovalik in the second round.
