GUAYAQUIL, November 3, 2021

Alejandro Tabilo from Chile celebrated the biggest win of his career by knocking out Jaume Munar from Spain, World. No. 78 and top seed of the Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil CUP BANCO GUAYAQUIL presented by CNT, in the first round of the $52,080 clay-court event on Tuesday.

Highlights Alejandro Tabilo CHI vs Jaume Munar ESP #ChallengerdeGuayaquil 1aR pic.twitter.com/ZWC8Pt2U4z

— Challenger de Guayaquil (@challengye05) November 3, 2021

The World No. 169 broke Munar’s serve four times to secure a 6-4, 6-2 victory in one hour and 29 minutes. “In terms of ranking, I think it is the best victory. Obviously this gives me a lot of confidence. It gives me much more desire to continue advancing, so I want to do my best here,” Tabilo said.

The 24-year-old from Santiago de Chile will next take on Darian King of Barbados.

In the bottom half of the draw, second-seeded Argentine Facundo Bagnis defeated his compatriot Hernan Casanova 6-2, 6-2. The 31-year-old wild card entry sent down five aces and won 81 per cent of his first-service points to succeed after one hour and 26 minutes. Bagnis will next face Peruvian qualifier Nicolas Alvarez, who edged past Thiago Tirante from Argentina 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in two hours and 11 minutes.

Cerundolo begins title defence

Defending champion Francisco Cerundolo also had to go the distance when he started his title bid against Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic. The No. 5 seed from Argentina won 54 per cent of the total points played to prevail 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 after two hours and 13 minutes.

Highlights Francisco Cerúndolo ARG vs Vit Kopriva CHE #ChallengerdeGuayaquil 1aR pic.twitter.com/f7kcbumqp9

— Challenger de Guayaquil (@challengye05) November 3, 2021

“He is a player who plays very low, very flat, he has a very good backhand with a lot of variety in his shots,” said Cerundolo. “He played well and was very aggressive in the first set, but then I could start to change my game a bit, lower his high balls a bit with slices and going more for his forehand, I think that was where I could make a difference. I also started to attack a little better. I served the last two sets better and that helped me a lot.”

The World No. 115, who is seeking his fifth Challenger career crown in Guayaquil, will next play Goncalo Oliveira from Portugal, who beat Roberto Cid Subervi from the Dominican Republic 6-3, 7-6(1). The encounter lasted one hour and 53 minutes.

Tuesday Results

Singles – First Round

Francisco Cerúndolo (ARG, 5) def. Vit Kopriva (CHE)  5-7, 6-2, 6-3

Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) def. Jaume Munar (ESP, 1) 6-4, 6-2

Goncalo Oliveira (POR) def. Roberto Cid Subervi (DOM) 6-3, 7-6(1)

Hugo Dellien (BOL, 7) def. Pedja Krstin (SER) 6-4, 6-2

Facundo Juárez (ARG) def. Facundo Díaz Acosta (ARG) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

Alejandro González (COL) def. Alexis Galarneau (CAN) 6-2, 6-4

Facundo Bagnis (ARG, 2) def. Hernán Casanova (ARG) 6-2, 6-2

Thiago Seyboth Wild (BRA, 6) def. Andrea Collarini (ARG) 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-2

Daniel Dutra da Silva (BRA) def. Nick Hardt (DOM) 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-0

Nicolás Álvarez Varona (ESP) def. Diego Hidalgo (ECU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3

Tomás Etcheverry (ARG) def. Roberto Quiroz (ECU) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5

Nicolás Álvarez (PER) def. Thiago Tirante (ARG) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3