BUENOS AIRES/STARNBERG, October 20, 2021

The DOVE MEN+CARE Challenger Circuit in South American continues this week at the Racket Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The top two seeds of the $52,080 ATP Challenger 80 tournament advanced to the second round on Tuesday.

No. 1 seed Thiago Monteiro fought past Argentine Hernan Casanova 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-2. The World No. 92 from Brazil, who claimed his sixth ATP Challenger Tour trophy at the Braga Open in Portugal last month, won 53 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in two hours and 37 minutes. Monteiro will next take on Nicolas Kicker of Argentina, who also needed to go the distance against Nicolas Alvarez from Peru, winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 on Monday.

We’re back in Argentina! 🙌

For the first time in two years, #ATPChallenger 🎾 returns to 🇦🇷, as the famous Racket Club in Buenos Aires hosts this week’s @ChallengerBA. pic.twitter.com/gBrYbh6DDc

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 19, 2021

In the bottom half of the draw, home favourite and World No. 102 Juan Manuel Cerundolo beat his compatriot Guido Andreozzi 6-4, 6-2. The No. 2 seed capitalized on six of his nine break-point chances to advance after one hour and 23 minutes. Up next for Cerundolo will be Andrea Collarini, who battled past fellow Argentine Genaro Alberto Olivieri 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. The encounter lasted two hours and 37 minutes.

Juan Manuel’s older brother Francisco Cerundolo also booked his spot in the second round, rallying past Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 after two hours and 13 minutes. The No. 3 seed will next play another Argentine, Juan Pablo Ficovich, who overcame Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo of Spain 7-6(1), 7-6(6).