Day 2. Orsi vs Dal Pozzo: Rome set for a derby with a historic quarter-final place at stake

Carolina Orsi, partnering Patty Llaguno, or Giulia Dal Pozzo, partnering Nuria Rodriguez, who played alongside Orsi last year. For the first time, an Italian player will reach the quarter-finals of a Major. And it will happen in Italy, at the Foro Italico, which today welcomed all the leading players from the men’s draw and tomorrow will do the same with the world’s top female players. Orsi and Llaguno defeated Aida Martinez and Camila Fassio 6-3 6-1, but the standout result came from Dal Pozzo and Rodriguez, who beat seventh seeds Ale Salazar and Ale Alonso in three sets, 6-3 5-7 6-2. Orsi and Dal Pozzo, who are also team-mates for Italy, will face each other for the first time in their careers. In the morning session, starting at 12 noon, defending champions Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea (1) will begin their campaign against Claudia Escacena and Patri Martinez, while on the Pietrangeli court Claudia Fernandez and Sofia Araujo (4) will take on Bea Caldera and Carmen Goenaga (9). Not before 3 p.m., Paula Josemaria and Bea Gonzalez (2) will face Martina Fassio and Raquel Eugenio (11), while not before 5 p.m. Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero (3) will play Aranzazu Osoro and Victoria Iglesias (10). Marina Guinart and Veronica Virseda, champions in Tirana at the FIP Platinum Albania, were eliminated after a 7-5 7-6 defeat to Noa Canovas and Laia Rodriguez.

 

MEN Speaking of last week’s FIP Platinum champions, Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas were pushed to the limit by Manuel Castaño and Xisco Gil, only managing to come through a very difficult match in the third set, winning 5-7 7-6 6-3. Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia secured their first victory at the Foro Italico in straight sets, defeating Flavio Abbate and Alvaro Montiel 6-2 6-2, as did Fede Chingotto and Ale Galan, who beat Tino Libaak and Alex Chozas 6-1 6-4, and Juan Lebron and Leo Augsburger, who overcame Manu Aragon and Albert Roglan 6-3 6-4. Among the top pairs, Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz also secured a three-set victory, defeating Luis Hernandez and Javi Martinez 6-1 4-6 7-5. It was also a winning return for Paquito Navarro and Martin Di Nenno, who overcame Alonso Rodriguez and Juani De Pascual 6-3 6-1. Coello and Tapia will face David Gala and Enzo Jensen in the round of 16, while Chingotto and Galan will take on Gonza Alfonso and Javi Barahona.