MONTEVIDEO/STARNBERG, November 11, 2025
Italy’s Marco Cecchinato advanced to the second round of the Uruguay Open after defeating defending champion Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina 6-4, 7-5 on Monday.
The former World No. 16 and Roland Garros semifinalist claimed victory in one hour and 44 minutes, despite having battled a fever the previous night.
The Palermo native will face Argentine Mariano Navone in the next round of the ATP Challenger Tour 100 clay-court event in Montevideo. The No. 2 seed opened his campaign with a solid 6-3, 6-2 win over compatriot Santiago Rodriguez Taverna in the night session on the main court.
The upcoming clash between Cecchinato and Navone will be a rematch of their recent meeting in the Lima Challenger final just 10 days ago, which Navone won.
In other main-draw action, Gustavo Heide of Brazil defeated Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez of Mexico 6-3, 6-4, while Ignacio Buse of Peru, the No. 7 seed, beat Timofey Skatov of Kazakhstan 6-3, 7-5.
A Good and a Bad Day for Uruguay
Joaquin Aguilar Cardozo made history by becoming the first Uruguayan player ever to reach the main draw of the Uruguay Open through qualifying. The local player edged Argentina’s Gonzalo Villanueva 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2) to join fellow Uruguayan Franco Roncadelli in the main draw.
Both will make their tournament debuts on Tuesday. Aguilar is scheduled to play against Czech Zdenek Kolar, while Roncadelli will feature in the evening match against 2022 champion Genaro Olivieri of Argentina.
Meanwhile, another Uruguayan hopeful, Tomas Zurmendi, fell short in qualifying after a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Brazil’s Daniel Dutra da Silva.
MONDAY RESULTS
Qualifying – Final Round
Daniel Dutra da Silva (Brazil, 7) def. Tomás Zurmendi (Uruguay, [WC]) 6-0, 6-0
Joaquín Aguilar Cardozo (Uruguay, [Alt]) def. Gonzalo Villanueva (Argentina, 8) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2)
Guido Iván Justo (Argentina, 9) def. Murkel Dellien (Bolivia, 2) 6-3, 6-1
Andrea Collarini (Argentina, 4) def. Mariano Kestelboim (Argentina, 10) 7-6(3), 6-1
Facundo Mena (Argentina, 11) def. Nicolás Barrientos (Colombia, Alt) 6-3, 6-4
David Jordà Sanchis (Spain, 12) def. Nicolás Kicker (Argentina, 5) 6-3, 7-5
Main Draw – First Round
Marco Cecchinato (Italy, [WC]) def. Facundo Díaz Acosta (Argentina) 6-4, 7-5
Mariano Navone (Argentina, 2) def. Santiago Rodríguez Taverna (Argentina, [Alt]) 6-3, 6-2
Gustavo Heide (Brazil) def. Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez (Mexico) 6-3, 6-4
Ignacio Buse (Peru, 7) def. Timofey Skatov (Kazakhstan) 6-3, 7-5
