CAGLIARI/STARNBERG, May 1, 2024
The ATP Challenger Tour is back the Italian island of Sardinia with the second edition of the Sardegna Open. The clay-court tournament offers a total prize money of €205,000 and is being held at the Tennis Club Cagliari.
In Wednesday’s first-round action, Federico Coria benefited from the retirement of Italian veteran Fabio Fognini. The 32-year-old Argentine was leading 7-6(4), 3-1 when Fognini was forced to stop playing due to a left calf injury.
Get well soon, Fabio 🙏@fedeecoria is through to the last 16 after Fognini is forced to retire in Cagliari#ATPChallenger | @federtennis pic.twitter.com/2W8Q2aPud0
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 1, 2024
“Winning like this is never nice,” said Coria in Italian after the match. “But I’m happy with the first set. It was a great battle.”
Coria will next face another former top-10 player when he goes head-to-head with top seed Frances Tiafoe from the United States on Thursday. “Facing two such players in the first two rounds of a Challenger isn’t normal. It shows the tournament’s level. Just as playing in front of this crowd isn’t normal. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow: I need you to win.”
Singles – First Round
Marton Fucsovics (Hun) b. Giulio Zeppieri (Ita) 7-5 4-0 ret.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Arg) b. Gabriel Diallo (Can) 6-0 7-6
Zachary Svajda (Usa) b. Zsombor Piros (Hun) 7-6 6-0
Shintaro Mochizuki (Jpn) b. Daniel Altmaier (Ger) 6-4 1-6 6-3
Camilo Ugo Carabelli (Arg) b. Taro Daniel (Jpn) 6-3 6-4
Nuno Borges (Por) b. Francesco Maestrelli (Ita) 6-3 7-5
Federico Coria (Arg) b. Fabio Fognini (Ita) 7-6 3-1 ret.
Daniel Elahi Galan (Col) b. Radu Albot (Mda) 2-6 7-6 6-4
Emilio Nava (Usa) b. Jesper De Jong (Ned) 6-1 6-3
Lorenzo Sonego (Ita)b. Alex Michelsen (Usa) 6-3 2-6 6-3
