Mar del Plata Premier Padel P1, day 1. Celebration for Lamperti-Cruz Belluati and wild cards

Argentinean vice-president Victoria Villarruel also wanted to be present on the opening day of the Mar del Plata Premier Padel P1, with many fans filling the stands of the Polideportivo Islas Malvinas to cheer on the home idols.

Among them were Miguel Lamperti and Juan Cruz Belluati, who debuted by beating qualifiers Anton Sans and David Gala 7-6 7-5 and will come back to the court today to take on Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz. But it was also party time for youngsters Tino Libaak and Leo Augsburger, who in two hours and 3′ defeated Munoz/Garcia with a score of 6-2 6-7 7-5.

The wild cards that the APA (Asociación Padel Argentino) had offered during two FIP Rise – stages of the CUPRA FIP Tour – organised in recent weeks also took the court. Federico Chiostri and Maximiliano Sanchez Blasco produced the day’s surprise by eliminating Ayats/Guerrero 7-6 6-2, but Pol Hernandez Alvarez and Rama Valenzuela will also play again thanks to their 6-2 6-4 victory over Solbes/Martì. On the other hand, the tournament of the other wild card, the eagerly awaited Tolito Aguirre and Gonza Alfonso, beaten 7-5 6-4 by José Antonio Diestro and Pablo Lijó, came to an end.

Today, starting at 9 a.m. local time (2 p.m. CET) the second round matches will begin, with eight of the 16 seeded players making their debut. The highest seed is number eight, formed by Maxi Sanchez and Sanyo Gutierrez, with the latter facing his nephew Agustin, who is playing with Josete Rico. Following the end of the qualifying draw, the women’s main draw will also begin today.