GRAN CANARIA/STARNBERG, March 1, 2022
The top two seeds of the Gran Canaria Challenger have both booked their spots in the second round of the ATP Challenger Tour 80 clay-court tournament. No. 1 seed Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain opened his title bid with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Italian Luciano Darderi on Tuesday afternoon at the El Cortijo Club de Campo in Telde.
The World No. 79, who was born on Gran Canaria’s neighbouring island of Tenerife, converted five of his 10 break-point chances to advance after one hour and 17 minutes.
Roberto #CarballesBaena gana el partido de hoy y alcanza la segunda ronda del #GranCanariaChallenger 🇪🇸
🎙 Contento de poder jugar en casa y que sigan haciendo Challengers aquí en #España@Robertocarba93 | @RFETenis | #GranCanaria | #GranCanariaIslaEuropeadelDeporte pic.twitter.com/Z5fXqgLWOp
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) March 1, 2022
“I made too many mistakes at the beginning of the match, I was nervous, “ Carballes Baena said. “Then when I got used to the conditions on the court I managed to play a good match, I am satisfied. Gran Canaria? I like. I was born in Tenerife. I am very pleased to play here this week. I hope to go as far as possible.”
Carballes Baena will next take on his compatriot and fellow wild card entry Pol Martin Tiffon, who beat Serbian veteran Miljan Zekic 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 29 minutes.
Mager wins first match as a dad
In the bottom half of the draw, second seed Gianluca Mager defeated Spanish qualifier Pol Toledo Bague 6-4, 6-2. The World No. 104 from Italy struck 10 aces and won 79 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 26 minutes.
Gianluca #Mager is into 2nd round 🙌🏻#GranCanariaChallenger | #tennis | @ATPChallenger | @gianlucamager pic.twitter.com/MMmolulMrR
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) March 1, 2022
“My opponent started very strong,” said Mager. “I have trained less than usual in recent weeks and I needed a few games to get into the match. I am happy with how I managed the challenge once I recovered from a slow start at the beginning of the first set.”
Mager became a father on February 16 when his partner and former World WTA World No. 401 Valentine Confalonieri gave birth to little Vittoria.
“How do I feel to have won my first match as a dad? A feeling that cannot be described, it is beautiful. I’m happy, Vittoria gives me peace of mind.”
Up next for Mager will be Javier Barranco Cosano, who emerged victorious from the all-Spanish encounter with qualifier Oriol Roca Batalla, winning 6-4, 6-4. The match lasted one hour and 47 minutes.
Tuesday Results
Singles – First Round
Roberto Carballes Baena b. Luciano Darderi 6-2 6-4
Gianluca Mager b. Pol Toledo Bague 6-4 6-2
Salvatore Caruso b. Carlos Lopez Montagud 5-7 6-0 6-4
Lukas Rosol b. Alessandro Giannessi 7-6(7) 3-6 7-6(2)
Johan Nikles b. Federico Gaio 2-6 7-6(6) 6-3
Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo b. Lorenzo Giustino 6-2 6-2
Duje Ajdukovic b. Miguel Damas 6-4 6-0
Javier Barranco Cosano b.. Oriol Roca Batalla 6-4 6-4
Riccardo Bonadio b. Matthieu Perchicot 6-1 6-2
Carlos Gimeno Valero b. Timofey Skatov 6-2 6-1
Pol Martin Tiffon b. Miljan Zekic 6-4 6-3
Gonçalo Oliveira b. Mathias Bourgue 6-4 6-1
📌 Order of Play | Wednesday 2 March @GranCanariaTur | @GranCanariaDep | #GranCanariaChallenger pic.twitter.com/UmrOJuYwQB
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) March 1, 2022
