Flying start for Garrido-De Pascual in Perugia. Top female players take to the court on Friday

PERUGIA – The FIP Gold Mediolanum Padel Cup in Perugia, Italy, got under way with a host of top players. The men’s draw started on Thursday, with some of the leading names on the world circuit immediately taking centre stage: the number 1 seeds Lucas Bergamini and Jairo Bautista made their debut, while Javi Garrido and Juani De Pascual claimed victory in the most eagerly awaited match of the day against Lucho Capra and Maxi Sanchez.

 

MEN Bergamini, number 19 in the FIP Ranking, and Bautista (23) made the perfect start to their new partnership, defeating Lorenzo Di Giovanni and Giuseppe Fino 6-3 6-4. There was also a convincing win for Garrido and De Pascual: the number 6 seeds, playing their first tournament together as well, beat Capra and Maxi Sanchez 6-3 6-1. The other seeded pairs also progressed, starting with Juanlu Esbri and Iñigo Jofre, who recorded a double 6-2 win over qualifiers Quatrana/Greco. The number 3 seeds will face Curro Cabeza and Santino Contreras in the round of 16 tomorrow. World champions Sanyo Gutierrez and Alex Chozas needed three sets against French qualifiers Sami Iznasni and Raphael Rubio: after today’s 3-4 7-6 6-2 victory, the number 5 seeds will now meet Cepero/Sager. Alex Ruiz and Javi Garcia (2) also advanced, as did Javi Barahona and Maxi Sanchez Blasco.

 

WOMEN On Friday, starting at 12 local time, it will be time for the women’s draw. Among the most awaited players are home favourites Carolina Orsi, Giulia Dal Pozzo and Carlotta Casali, all protagonists with Italy in the recent medals won by the national team at the World Championships, European Championships and Mediterranean Games. Orsi and Patty Llaguno will begin their campaign against Giuditta Beltrami and Michela Zaccagnini. Dal Pozzo will team up with Nuria Rodriguez against Francesca Scrinzi and Vittoria Giraldi, while Carlotta Casali and Nerea Guerra will face Deborah Cruciani and Micaela Moroni. Top seeds Veronica Virseda and Martina Fassio will start against Italian pair Livioni/Coppola, while Jimena Velasco and Raquel Eugenio begin their bid for a second consecutive FIP Gold title after their triumph in São Paulo against Di Battista/Corrales.