In a thrilling matchup during the concluding leg of the South American clay court season at the BCI Seguros Chile Open in Santiago, American Emilio Nava delivered an impressive performance, overcoming the powerful Matteo Berrettini. In what marked his first appearance in the Chilean capital, Nava, currently positioned at world number 79, secured a straight-set victory with a score of 6-3, 6-4, demonstrating remarkable composure throughout the match by saving all three break points he faced.
Reflecting on his victory, Nava acknowledged the challenge posed by Berrettini, stating, “A super tough opponent in Berrettini, with a big serve. Especially with the altitude, it was going to be an uphill battle, but mentally I was ready to do it and I was playing great.” The match lasted for 87 minutes, and Nava’s confidence was palpable as he executed a well-rounded game plan.
In the second round, Nava is set to face Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. Vallejo’s path to this match opened when Italian wildcard Francesco Passaro retired while trailing 6-3, 3-3.
Danish player Elmer Moller also celebrated a significant achievement by claiming his first ATP Tour main-draw victory against Argentina’s Roman Andre Burruchaga in a tense encounter that ended 7-6(4), 0-6, 6-4. Moller will now compete against top seed Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina for a chance to reach the quarter-finals.
Other notable performers included Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas, who made quick work of local favorite Matias Soto with a 6-2, 6-3 win, setting up a second-round clash against Dino Przmic. Meanwhile, Mariano Navone advanced to the next round after his opponent, Vit Kopriva, retired while Navone was in the lead at 3-6, 6-0, 3-1.
In evening fixtures, eighth seed Alejandro Tabilo emerged victorious in a tight contest against compatriot Tomas Barrios Vera, winning 7-5, 6-3. Cristian Garin, another home favorite, fought back from a set down to defeat Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina, completing the match with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Jarry, a Santiago native, made his sixth consecutive appearance at this ATP 250 event, eager to secure a tour-level victory since reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon this past July.
On the opening day of the tournament, Jannick Hanfmann showcased dominance in his match against Serbian player Dusan Lajovic, losing only three games to cruise to a 6-0, 6-3 victory. The 34-year-old German landed an impressive 22 winners and will next take on fourth seed Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
Meanwhile, seventh seed Francisco Comesana had a nail-biting encounter against Pedro Martinez, saving a match point before clinching the match 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4). Comesana will face qualifier Andrea Pellegrino in the second round, following Pellegrino’s own victory over Argentine qualifier Alex Barrena, with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 6-1. Pellegrino shared his thoughts on the win, emphasizing the momentum gained from competition in the qualifiers, stating, “It feels great to win… The third set is always a fight.”
As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to more thrilling matchups and displays of resilience from top hopefuls on the ATP Tour.
