Diego Schwartzman isn’t quite ready to bid farewell to his hometown supporters. The 32-year-old Argentinian, participating in his last competition before retiring, triumphed over seventh-seed Nicolas Jarry from Chile with a score of 7-6 (10), 4-6, 6-3 during the opening round of the IEB+ Argentina Open in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
Among the other victors on clay were Germany’s top seed Alex Zverev, who secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic, and Joao Fonseca from Brazil, who defeated Argentine eighth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-3. Fonseca made history as the third-youngest champion in the tournament at 18 years and five months.
Meanwhile, fourth-seed Alejandro Tabilo from Chile and sixth seed Sebastian Baez of Argentina faced upsets. In contrast, fifth-seeded Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina overcame his brother Juan Manuel Cerundolo with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-3.
At the Delray Beach Open, California’s 20-year-old third seed Alex Michelsen progressed to the quarterfinals after fellow American Michael Mmoh retired in the second set of their hardcourt match in Florida.
Mmoh secured the first set 7-6 (8) but retired with Michelsen leading 3-0 in the second set. Among the seeded players, all but one maintained their positions, as fifth-seeded Marcos Giron defeated fellow American Ethan Quinn in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Meanwhile, No. 7 seed Miomir Kecmanovic from Serbia advanced without playing due to a walkover against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
Arthur Rinderknech of France was the sole seeded player to falter, losing in straight sets to Cameron Norrie of Great Britain with scores of 7-6 (9), 6-2.
At the Open 13 Provence, Serbian Hamad Medjedovic delivered a remarkable performance by defeating third-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov, 6-2, 6-3, thus advancing to the quarterfinals of the indoor hardcourt event in Marseille, France. Ugo Humbert, seeded second and representing France, avoided an upset by overcoming Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 7-6 (7), 6-4. The only other seeded competitor on Wednesday, Italy’s No. 7 Lorenzo Sonego, claimed victory when French adversary Luca Van Assche withdrew.
Medjedovic is set to compete against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier, who secured a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Finland’s Otto Virtanen.
