The last week of the professional tennis circuit began in the cities of BelgradeSerbia, and MetzFrance. Then the ATP Finalsbetter known as Mastersin the city of Turinbut in which only the best eight players of the season will participate. Some of the places for the contest to be held in northern Italy do not yet have an owner and the two European events can help give them the last push.
As for the Argentines, Tommy Etcheverry had a good start in the competition Belgrade by achieving a victory in straight sets, by 6-3 and 6-4about Pavel Kotov (No. 74 in the world), whom he had already beaten in Miami last year. In the round of 16, it will be measured on Tuesday, in the third round of the Grandstandwith the local coming from the classification Luke Klein (153), 26 years old, who defeated James Duckworth (AUS), 6-4 and 6-2.
For the player from La Plata it is a good step that allows him to continue adding experience in this type of hard surface, indoor competition, with similar characteristics to those he will face in a few weeks during the finals of Davis Cupsomething that the Argentine captain must be seeing with very good eyes Guillermo Coria.
The one who could not continue the same path was Mariano Navonewho seems to have closed his first season of only ATP tournaments. In general terms, the balance is very good, since it will close among the 50 or 60 best on the circuitdepending on some results that occur during this week. In a match that, despite what the scoreboard indicates, was very even in each of the games, except for the second and third of the first set.
The veteran Dusan Lajovic ended up winning the ticket to the round of 16 by 6-0 y 7-6 (3)after a very tight second set, in which both had several break chances that they failed to convert. The tiebreaker defined the victory of the local player.
It is worth remembering that Francisco Cerúndolo (29) comes out ahead and debuts in the round of 16 against the winner of the match Fabio Fognini (ITA) – Roman Safiulin (Russia)which will be played on Tuesday in the first round of the Court Central.
Among other results of matches played this Monday, in Belgrade, Daniel Altmaierdirected by the Argentine Luli Mancinisale to Luciano Darderi (ITA), 7-6 (1) and 6-3, while the Croatian Marin Cilicchampion of US Open 2014, advanced to the second round, after defeating Alexandre Mullerof Franceby 7-6(2) and 6-3.
Meanwhile, in the French tournament of Metz We had to regret the last minute withdrawal of Facundo Díaz Acostawhich put an end to a year crossed by injuries. However, proportionally to what he was able to play, he managed to win the title of the Argentina Open and achieved 16 victories in the year, almost half of what he was able to play.
Due to the absence of Díaz Acosta, he entered to play against Lorenzo Sonego the french Gregoire Barrerein a painting that suffered many alterations in its entry list initial, since it had 11 casualties in total.
Next week, the eight best tennis players of the season will compete in the Final 8 in Turin, and seven days later, the Davis Cup quarterfinals will begin in Malaga. In that instance, Sebastián Báez, Francisco Cerúndolo and Tomás Etcheverry They will meet again under the command of the captain, Guillermo Corianext to Maximo Gonzalez y Andrés Molteni that will make up the albiceleste duo that will be measured in Italia.
