A slightly wild and somewhat romantic evening, painted in strong shades of blue, brought an end to the very long Tuesday at the Internazionali di Bergamo – Trofeo FAIP-Perrel. And there was news too: after top seed Shintaro Mochizuki, the second seed Billy Harris has also bowed out. Both upsets were delivered by Italian players. After Federico Arnaboldi’s win, Andrea Guerrieri added his name to the list by claiming the biggest victory of his career—his second main-draw win at Challenger level, and his second-ever triumph over a top-200 player, both of them coming against Harris. Indeed, the Emilia-born Italian’s previous best result (and his only other win at this level) had come against the same Brit last year in Francavilla al Mare.

Showing extraordinary tenacity and admirable tactical discipline, Guerrieri prevailed 6–7, 7–5, 6–3 and celebrated with restraint—evidence of a deep belief in his ability to compete at this level. He was ice-cold on the big points, saving sixteen of the seventeen break points he faced, against a visibly frustrated Harris in the final set. Things nearly got complicated at the end: leading 5–2 and 15–40 on Harris’s serve, Guerrieri wasted two match points, then found himself down 15–40 in the following game. He fended off both break points with winners—one forehand, one backhand—before sealing the match thanks to Harris’s last error. A moment of great joy, and a big opportunity: in the round of 16 he will face Bulgaria’s Alexander Donski, also a qualifier and ranked below him. For Guerrieri, it is a major chance to reach his first ATP Challenger quarterfinal.

It was also a big night for Francesco Maestrelli. Last year’s finalist had drawn the most prestigious name in the field: Emil Ruusuvuori, a former world No. 37 who only two years ago led Finland to a historic Davis Cup semifinal. It turned into a fierce battle, in which the player from Pisa showed his fighting spirit and explosive athleticism. Down 3–1 in the third set, he clawed his way back and proved the steadier player when it mattered most, eventually winning 6–4, 3–6, 7–6. It must be said that Ruusuvuori looked almost too calm, even apathetic, in the third set, but that does not diminish Maestrelli’s merit. He is now very close to his career-high ranking (No. 149, currently 157), set two and a half years ago. On Monday he will lose the points earned at last year’s FAIP-Perrel, but his season has been extremely positive: he has climbed around 100 spots since January. In the round of 16 he will be favored against qualifier Buvaysar Gadamauri, who played a stylish match—featuring two one-handed backhands—taking advantage of Pierluigi Basile’s still-developing court sense.

In short, it has been a tournament full of surprises so far. With Virtanen and Lajal yet to make their debuts, only two seeded players have survived the opening round. And there are six Italians in the last sixteen.

INTERNAZIONALI DI BERGAMO – Trofeo FAIP-Perrel (145,250€, indoor)

Singles – First Round
Lorenzo Sciahbasi (ITA) d. Viktor Durasovic (NOR) 3–6 7–6 7–5
Federico Arnaboldi (ITA) d. Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN) 7–6(4) 4–6 6–2
Alexander Donski (POL) d. Fausto Tabacco (ITA) 4–6 6–3 6–4
Francesco Passaro (ITA) d. Michele Ribecai (ITA) 7–6(6) 6–2
Nerman Fatic (BIH) d. Fabrizio Andaloro (ITA) 6–4 6–6 ret.
Milos Karol (SVK) d. Andrea Pellegrino (ITA) 6–4 6–2
Justin Engel (GER) d. Hamish Stewart (GBR) 2–1 ret.
Buvaysar Gadamauri (BEL) d. Pierluigi Basile (ITA) 6–3 6–2
Francesco Maestrelli (ITA) d. Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6–4 3–6 7–6(3)
Andrea Guerrieri (ITA) d. Billy Harris (GBR) 6–7(5) 7–5 6–3

Doubles – First Round
David Pichler / Filip Pieczonka (AUT/POL) d. Alexey Vatutin / Beibit Zhukayev (RUS/KAZ) 6–2 6–1
Theo Arribage / Albano Olivetti (FRA/FRA) d. Viktor Durasovic / Lukas Hellum-Lillengeem (NOR/NOR) 6–3 6–3