With an Argentine victory, the main draw of the Argentina Open 2024
started
.
After the delay in the start of the day caused by rain,
Facundo Díaz Acosta
became the first player to qualify for the round of 16, by beating German
Daniel 6-3, 7-6 (7-1).
Altmaier
, 53rd in the world.
The Buenos Aires native, 87th in the ranking and invited by the organization, had just reached the quarterfinals of an ATP for the first time last week in Córdoba and extended his great moment in his debut in the Buenos Aires competition.
Díaz Acosta needed two hours and five minutes to overcome a rival who was barely two years older (25 versus 23 years old), but with much more professional experience than him.
"The wait to go out on the field became complicated. It seemed like the sky was falling and I thought I was going to play at around 5 in the afternoon. Suddenly, around two o'clock it stopped and then the fields recovered at the touch. I had a lot of anxiety and a lot of desire to play here. These are things that if you don't handle it well, it can cost you," explained the man who won the Pan American gold last year in Santiago and has one foot in the Paris Olympic Games.
Argentine power 💥
A first-time ATP quarter-finalist last week in Cordoba, Facundo Diaz Acosta defeats Altmaier 6-3 7-6(1) in his @ArgentinaOpen opener pic.twitter.com/5foL9EaNjr
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 12, 2024
Now he will collide with another Argentine,
Francisco Cerúndolo
, 22nd in the world and fourth favorite.
"
Fran
and we know each other a lot, we played together many times. I remember a Challenger in Chile in which he gave me a terrible beating. He is in a great moment. I also started very well this year. They are separate games, two Argentines, in Buenos Aires. We are both going to want to win. Whoever is better with his head and tennis will surely win," he anticipated.
The one who could not celebrate in his senior debut in the Buenos Aires competition was
Marin Cilic
.
The Croatian, who also entered thanks to an invitation, was eliminated by the Serbian
Laslo Djere
, seventh seed, who beat him 4-6, 6-3 and 6-0.
First win of 2024 🙌
Laslo Djere overcomes Cilic 4-6 6-3 6-0 to reach R2 in Buenos Aires!@ArgentinaOpen pic.twitter.com/a8NbCZ2AmS
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 12, 2024
"In the first set I felt very good, but then my physical condition stopped responding to me. It was very nice to play here and have the public recognize me," commented Cilic, former fourth in the ranking and champion of the 2014
US Open
.
And he added: "There are many good players in Argentina, so I really appreciate the invitation that the tournament gave me. Unfortunately I couldn't come in 2018 (
NdR: He dropped out at the last minute due to injury
) and I'm happy to have done so now. I hope can return in 2025".
On a cool night and with quite a bit of wind - but without rain, at least for now -,
Pedro Cachin
, 74th in the ranking, faces the Swiss
Stan Wawrinka
, 60th and winner of three Grand Slams.
And at the end of the day,
Tomás Etcheverry
, sixth seed, will clash with the Spanish
Roberto Carballes Baena
.