STARNBERG, November 25, 2020
World No. 91 Federico Coria from Argentina opened his title bid on Tuesday at the Lima Challenger held at the Centro Promotor de Tenis Miraflores with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Mario Vilella Martinez from Spain.
The top seed of the $52,080 clay-court event converted three of his six break-point chances to prevail after one hour and six minutes. Coria will next take on compatriot Francisco Cerundolo, champion of the inaugural Split Open in Croatia early October as well as last week’s Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil in Ecuador. The 22-year-old Buenos Aires native continued his good run of form with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jelle Sels from the Netherlands. Cerundolo outpointed his rival 64-42 after 63 minutes.
Coria emerged victorious from both previous meetings with Cerundolo. The last match also took place in the second round here in Lima one year ago. Coria won in straight sets.
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Carballes Baena advances
No. 2 seed Roberto Carballes Baena also booked his spot in the second round. The World No. 102 from Spain eased past lucky loser Mauricio Echazu of Peru 6-1, 6-0 in exactly one hour of play and will next take on Argentine Renzo Olivo.
Teenager Thiago Agustin Tirante caused the upset of the day by knocking out No. 5 seed Pedro Sousa from Portugal. The 19-year-old qualifier of Argentina, currently ranked World No. 539, won 71 per cent of his first-service points and 64 per cent of the total points played to secure a 6-2, 6-1 win in one hour and 17 minutes. Up next for Agustin Tirante will be Spaniard Oriol Roca Batalla, who edged out Pedja Krstin from Serbia 7-5, 7-5. The encounter lasted one hour and 55 minutes.
