Tennis: in Antalya Berrettini and Fognini warm up

 Tennis is approaching with great strides towards recovery, after the winter break, but above all at the first major event of the season: the Australian Open, scheduled in Melbourne from 8 to 21 February. While waiting for the first Grand Slam, Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini's 2021 couldn't have had a better prologue, at least from a competitive point of view. The 24-year-old Roman tennis player, ranked number 10 and first favorite, as well as his Ligurian colleague, on his debut in the Antalya Open - the new ATP 250 tournament with a prize pool of 361,800 euros and underway on concrete in the Turkish city won hands down. Berrettini liquidated in the first round (6-0, 6-4), in just 56 ', the host Ergin Kirkin, n.446 Atp, admitted to the main draw thanks to a' wile-card '. The 21-year-old from Ankara has never been able to worry the blue who delivered a great service performance, putting 8 aces against two double fouls and no break points allowed. For the Roman also 67% of first in the field with an eloquent 92% of points obtained, but also 62% of points gained with the second serve. Berrettini will now have to face it (Sunday) against the Bulgarian Dimitar Kuzmanov, n.298 in the ranking, coming from the qualifiers (where Andrea Pellegrino stopped in three sets in the decisive round). Fabio Fognini also made the big voice in Turkey. The 33-year-old from Arma di Taggia (Imperia), 17 of the ATP and third seed of the tournament, got rid of the Czech Michael for 6-4, 7-6 (4), after 1h39 'of play Vrbensky, 21 year old from Nymburk, # 311 in the ranking, who came from the qualifiers. The Ligurian, in the second round - also on Sunday - will find the French Jeremy Chardy, 33, n.72 in the ranking: Fognini is ahead of him 5-1 in the balance of the previous direct. The two players, however, have not crossed for three years. In the second round there is also another bit of Italy: thanks to Stefano Travaglia, n.75 in the world ranking, who yesterday made his debut by imposing a comeback (1-6, 6-4, 6-0) on the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, # 42 of the ATP and seventh seeded in Turkey. The 29-year-old from Ascoli Piceno will play a place tomorrow in the quarter-finals against 21-year-old Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori, n.87 in the world rankings.