TURIN, April 18, 2016

With the second edition of the €42,500 Torino Challenger, the ATP Challenger Tour stays in Italy for another week.

Courts at Torino Challenger (photo via Ken Skupski intstagram)

Two seeds were in first round action on Monday, as the tournament’s number eight Kimmer Coppejans overcame Italian wild card Lorenzo Sonego 4-6, 6-3, 7-6. The 22-year-old Belgian won 70% of his first service points and converted five of his 20 break point chances to prevail in two hours and 50 minutes. Coppejans will play either Stefano Napolitano or David Guez next.

Fourth seed Stephane Robert defeated Hiroki Moriya 7-6, 6-3. The world number 116 from France sent down seven aces and capitalized on three of his eight break point opportunities to reach the second round after one hour and 33 minutes. Robert will take on the winner of the encounter between Yannick Mertens and Filippo Volandri.

Gianluca Naso emerged victorious from the all-Sicillian-affair with wild card Salvatore Caruso. The 29-year-old old recorded a 6-4, 6-4 win in one hour and 31 minutes to face either Enrique López-Pérez or seventh seed Luca Vanni.

The tournament’s number one Rogerio Dutra Silva will step into action on Tuesday, facing Blaz Rola. Second favourite Thomas Fabbiano will start his campaign against fellow Italian Edoardo Eremin.

Earlier the day, the final round of the qualifying concluded with Nikola Mektic making it into the main draw. The 27-year-old Croatian, who reached the second round at the ATP 250 event in Marrakech two weeks ago losing to Jiri Vesely, beat Jan Satral 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. He will compete against fifth seed Andrej Martin next.

Joris de Loore, Pedro Sousa as well as Matthias Bachinger also advanced to the main draw.