Diego Schwartzman put Barcelona first and now wants revenge on Sinner

diego schwartzmann It started its way in Barcelona ATP 500. He small48th in the standings, he beat the Chinese with a comfortable 6-2 and 6-2 Yib Wu56th, in one hour and 19 minutes and entered the second round of the competition, which brings into play the well-known Count of Godó Trophy. It was his second victory of the season on clay, a surface on which he had previously achieved his best results, but on which this year he had started a losing streak.

The next rival of the porteño -this Wednesday, not before 7.30 in our country- will be Jannik sinner, fourth favourite, who was released in the opening round. It will be an opportunity to take revenge for the Argentine, who was forced to retire last week from the duel against the Italian in the round of 16 Monte Carlo Master 1000when he fell 6-0 and 3-1, due to severe pain in his left shoulder.

Schwartzman has a big challenge in Barcelona, ​​​​where he must defend the 180 points obtained last year by reaching the semifinals (he greeted the local Pablo Carreno Busta) in order not to continue losing ground in the standings.

He small -That in 2020 he experienced a dream year on the European slow court tour, in which he batted Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals in Rome (she then lost the final with Novak Djokovic), and was a semifinalist in Roland Garros– is looking for a way to get back to its best self, after a poor second half of 2022 and a bad start to 2023.

The man from Buenos Aires arrived in Barcelona this year with just one powder of victory. Is that he passed zero for the South American tour of that area, in which he lost his debut in Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago de Chile. In early April he lost in the first round in Estoril against the Italian Mark Cecchino.

Last week, he was finally able to end a seven-game losing streak on slow pitches by batting David Goffin at his first match in Monte Carlo; but his physique did not allow him to prolong his good time.“I’m leaving with a mix of very good sensations. Very positive for the first game, but sad because my body played a trick on me against Sinner”he commented on his account instagram.

The former world number eight will now have a new opportunity against the talented young Italian – who has just played the semifinal in Montecarlo – and will try to combine two celebrations on slow courts for the first time since the last edition of Roland Garros, in which he said goodbye to the round of 16 against Djokovic.

On a day with lots of Argentinian action in Barcelona, Pedro Cachin, 69th in the standings, also signed the pass for the second round. Cordovan prevailed 6-3 and 7-5 against the Dutch Gijs Brouwer121st, and this Wednesday -not before 11am- he will meet the Greek Stephen Tsitsipasfifth in the standings and second favorite of the tournament.

The day wasn’t perfect for Albiceleste tennis because it was eliminated Thomas Etcheverry59th, fell 6-3 and 6-3 against the Spaniards Alexander Davidovich, 38th, and could not go through to the second round. The player from La Plata had made his debut on Monday in a fine 6-2, 7-5 win against another venue, Pablo Andujarinvited by the organization and who played his last match in this tournament, since he will retire at the end of the season.

While, Francis Cerundoloexited in the first round as 15th seeded, he will play this Wednesday -around 10am- with the Italian Francesco Passaro125th, which he beat with a double 6-1 a Fernando Verdascoanother of those who entered the area thanks to a wild card.

Báez, eliminated in Monaco

Sebastian Baez he said goodbye very quickly Munich ATP 250. The man from Buenos Aires, 30th in the standings and fifth favourite, lost 6-3 and 7-5 in his debut in the German competition with the locals Oscar Otto94th of the ATP.

It was the second straight loss by sebas on the European clay tour, in which he reached the quarterfinals in Estoril (defending his title) and was eliminated last week in his first match in Monte Carlo. Báez was the only blue and white representative in Monaco.

There hasn’t even been an Argentine celebration in the Baja Luca ATP 250Why Frederick Coria76th, retired injured after losing the first set of the opening round match 6-4 against the Romanian Radu Albot110th and coming from qualy.

The Bosnian competition has as a favorite Novak Djokovic, number one in the world. The Serbian, who comes from the surprise defeat in the round of 16 in Montecarlo against the Italian Lorenzo Musettowill debut against the French Luca Van Asche87th in table and 18-year-old, who beat the Swiss 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-4 Stan Wawrinka.