RIO DE JANEIRO, January 21, 2016

The clay court specialists on the ATP Challenger Tour came together in Brazil when the first round of the inaugural $50,000 Vivo Tennis Cup, held at Marapendi Club in Rio de Janeiro, concluded on Tuesday.

Third seed and local hero Rogerio Dutra Silva ralllied back, winning 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 over Arthur de Greef. The world number 31 from Brazil won 82% of his second service points and converted four of his seven break point chances to prevail in two hours and eight minutes. Dutra Silva will take on fellow countryman Guilherme Clezar in the next round, who defeated Giovanni Lapentti 6-1, 6-4.

Fourth seed Facundo Bagnis also advanced to the second round through a 6-4, 6-1 victory ver Marcelo Arevalo. The 25-year-old from Argentina hit 9 aces and saved all seven break point he faced and capitalized on three of his own to finish the encounter after 76 minutes. Bagnis will face Christian Lindell next, who cruised past Brazilian wild card Wilson Leite 6-2, 6-2 in 66 minutes.

The touranment’s number five and six also prevailed, as Portuguese Gastao Elias overcame Jonathan Eysseric 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 and Facundo Arguello from Argentina knocked out Gonzalo Escobar, winning 6-3, 6-2.

The two top-seeds haven’t been left in the draw. Top ranked Argentine Horacio Zeballos withdrew ahead of the tournament’s start due to neck injury and second seed Roberto Carballés-Baena from Spain lost his opening match on Tuesday to Axel Michon 6-1, 5-7, 5-7.