Navone Notches Second-Round Win At Challenger Villa Maria

Mariano Navone (photo: Challenger Villa Maria)

VILLA MARIA/STARNBERG, September 23, 2022

Seven Argentines and one German have reached the quarterfinals of the Challenger Dove Men+Care Villa Maria. Home favourite Mariano Navone upset his compatriot and No. 2 seed Camilo Ugo Carabelli in Thursday’s second round at the $53,120 clay-court event being held at the Sport Social Club in Villa Maria, Argentina.

The World No. 333 converted five of his 11 break-point opportunities to secure victory in one hour and 58 minutes.  Navone is still seeking his first title on the Pro Circuit but is now 10-2 in his last three ATP Challenger Tour appearances on home soil. The 21-year-old will next take on eighth-seeded Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina.

In other action, Facundo Diaz Acosta benefited from the retirement of top seed Juan Pablo Varillas from Peru. The 21-year-old from Buenos Aires was leading 6-0, 2-2 when the World No. 102 was forced to stop playing due to hip problems. Diaz Acosta opposes Yannick Hanfmann in the stage of the final eight. The fifth-seeded German outlasted Pol Martin Tiffon of Spain 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in two hours and 11 minutes.

World No. 120 Facundo Bagnis remains the highest-ranked player left in the singles draw. The third seed rallied past Daniel Dutra da Silva of Brazil 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes and will next play Hernan Casanova. Gauchos Nicolas Kicker and seventh favourite Renzo Olivo round out the quarterfinal line-up.