TODI/STARNBERG, August 14, 2024
The Internazionali di Tennis Città di Todi | Sidernestor Tennis Cup has made its mark in the record books. With his first-round victory over his compatriot Gabriele Pennaforti in the ATP Challenger Tour 75 event organized by MEF Tennis Events, Pierluigi Basile of Italy became the first tennis player born in 2007 to pass the qualifying and win a match in the main draw of a Challenger tournament.
On Tuesday,the World No. 1843 from Puglia came back from a set down to secure a 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-3 victory in three hours and 10 minutes.
Man of the hour: Pigi 🥹
🇮🇹 17-year-old Pierluigi Basile reaches the second round of his first career Challenger.#tennis #InternazionaliTodi #ATPChallenger #Todi pic.twitter.com/rWO9fniWju
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) August 13, 2024
“I’d say it’s not bad,” Basile said with a laugh. “I was very tense from the start, which affected my performance, especially in the tie-break of the first set. Losing it perhaps helped me loosen up, but at the same time, I didn’t think I could take it to the end.”
Alongside the 17-year-old from Puglia were numerous supporters from the Tennis Training School of Foligno, including Jacopo Berrettini. “I’m very happy because most of the people I work with every day were here. It was an unforgettable day.”
Basile from Martina Franca will now face either Carlos Taberner of Spain or Frenchman Geoffrey Blancaneaux in the second round.
TUESDAY RESULTS
Singles – First Round
Gastao Elias b. Matthew Dellavedova (LL) 6-1 6-1
Franco Agamenone b. Genaro Alberto Olivieri 6-3 7-5
Luka Pavlovic (Q) b. Lukas Neumayer 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0
Pierluigi Basile (Q) b. Gabriele Pennaforti (WC) 6-7(1) 6-4 6-3
Facundo Juarez (Q) b. Martin Klizan (Alt) 6-4 6-3
Luciano Emanuel Ambrogi (Q) b. Clement Tabur (3) 7-5 7-6(5)
Lorenzo Giustino b. Gianluca Cadenasso (Q) 6-3 6-3
Luca Castagnola (Q) b. Gianmarco Ferrari (WC) 6-4 6-0
