FIP Platinum Sardegna, day 1: Bela-Day thrills the ‘Centrale’, other top players advance

Just one match to conquer Cagliari, once again with an extra thrill. Fernando Belasteguin excited the crowd in his debut at the FIP Platinum Sardegna, teaming up with Javi Garrido for the first time: the world’s number 9 and number 11 together. However, at the TC Cagliari, the top seeds had to struggle against the pair Piotto/Del Castillo, in a match that lasted exactly two hours: after winning the first set in a hard-fought tie break, Bela and Garrido faltered in the second (losing 2-6), but then powered through the match – with a scare at 4-0 when Garrido needed a medical timeout for a ball to the eye – and closed the third set 6-0. This highly anticipated debut for fans marks the “last tango” in Sardinia for the Argentine legend who has announced his retirement at the end of the season. Tomorrow, he will face Fran Ramirez and Victor Mena in the round of 16 (on the Centrale court, not before 7 PM). Before Bela and Garrido, Momo Gonzalez and Edu Alonso (2) completed their first-round match, winning 6-2 6-4 against qualifiers Iacovino/Bruno. They now face Ortega/Marti. Among the top seeds, Maxi Sanchez and Luciano Capra (3) also advanced with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Medina/Garcia. The two Argentinians will open tomorrow’s day (9 AM, Centrale court) against Aris Patiniotis and José David Sanchez.

TOLITO AND THE “PAPU” The first day of the main draw also marked the debut of another new pair, Miguel Lamperti and Tolito Aguirre. The Argentinians, warmly applauded, defeated the Italian pair Perino/Dominguez in an hour (6-3 6-1). Watching them was a special fan, former Atalanta footballer “Papu” Gomez, a friend of “Miguelito” and his partner, and a big fan of Maxi Sanchez. Lamperti and Tolito will now face Enrique Goenaga and Juanlu Esbri (6), who won 7-5 6-3 against Martinez/Ruiz. As expected, Zapata/Diestro (7) left only five games to Ruiz/Ranera (6-3 6-2), and Leal/Campagnolo advanced after a 6-3 7-6 win over Jofre/Hernandez. Among the home athletes, wild cards Abbate/Graziotti reached the round of 16 and will face Gonzalo Rubio and Alex Arroyo (4) tomorrow.

WOMEN An easy debut for Virginia Riera and Carmen Goenaga, who won in less than an hour (6-1 6-4) against qualifiers Peco/Foguer; the top seeds will now face Barrera/Caparros (6-4 6-4 over Dominguez/Gallardo). In the morning session, Sharifova/Martinez (4) also succeeded against Blanco/Vivancos (6-1 7-6 in just over an hour). Carolina Orsi, last year’s finalist in Cagliari, also reached the round of 16: she and Nuria Rodriguez (5) won in three sets against Martinez/Canovas (6-4 3-6 6-4).

Day 2 at TC Cagliari will start at 9 AM and continue until late morning, resuming in the afternoon not before 5:30 PM.