Argentina Open: Zeballos and Granollers could not resist the power of Vavassori and Bolelli in the doubles final

Horace Zeballos he couldn’t allow himself the pleasure of shouting champion for the fifth time in the 2023. The Mar del Plata and the Spanish Marcel Granollersbig favorite, lost the doubles final 6-2 and 7-6 (8-6) against the Italians Simone Bolelli AND Andrea Vavassoriseeded third, earlier in the day on a cloudy but warm Sunday at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

In the preview the definition of singles among Facundo Diaz Acosta AND Nicholas Jarry There was much anticipation for a possible new consecration of the man from Mar del Plata. But their rivals, finalists in January in Australian Openthey were superior.

“Thanks to Marcel for coming, it’s never easy and having him here is a source of pride. And to my family, some of those who came from Mar del Plata. The years pass and I continue to get excited”, commented Zeballos, after having received the trophy

And he made a promise that drew applause: “It was nice to play here again. I thank the organizers. And I won’t retire until it’s an ATP 500. So see you next year.” ”

In the first set the Italian couple converted the three break opportunities they had, winning the set without too many problems. Onion and his teammate were unwell and, after being 1-3 down on the scoreboard, were unable to recover.

The story became very uniform in the second chapter. The Argentine and the Spaniard began to score many more first serves and thus win more points. And they made fewer errors, both when coming out to press the net and from the baseline. But their rivals remained solid, especially in the service game, and won many points through the parallel bars. So until 6-6 there were no breaks (not even a breaking point) in the set.

A mini break on Zeballos’ serve at the start of the second half tiefollowed by two good service points from Bolelli, allowed the Azzurri to go ahead 3-0 and take the lead 6-3 shortly after, with three match points in their favor.

The Argentine and the Spaniard all three saved (two with Bolelli serving and another with Granollers’ serve) and tied the score 6-6. But in the fourth they didn’t succeed and it was Vavassori who sealed the Italian consecration.

Bolelli lifted the doubles trophy of the Buenos Aires competition for the third time. She had already won in 2013 and 2023 with Fabio Fognini as a companion.

“It’s always a pleasure to come here. It’s like playing at home. Every time I come the people always show us so much affection. So I’ll be back next year,” said the Bolognese, currently 38 years old.

Vavassori won his first title on BALTC clay and capped off a sensational week, having also been one of the surprises in the singles draw.

In the individual race, the one born in Pinerolo 28 years ago, 152nd in the rankings, started in qually and reached the quarterfinals by winning against the Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild and Serbian Laslo Djere, seventh seed. And first she greeted me Carlos Alcaraznumber two in the world, who managed to lead to a tie break in the first set of the duel won by the Spaniard 7-6 (7-1) and 6-1.

“It was an incredible week. We did a great job. I hope to come back next year,” Vavassori said.

The tournament in Buenos Aires began with the desire to see an Argentine lift the doubles trophy for the 13th time since he regained ATP status in 2001. The last to do so was André Molteniwho became champion in 2022 together with the Mexican Santiago González.

Zeballos won in 2010 together with Sebastiano Prietoin 2018 with Molteni, in 2019 with Massimo González and in 2019 already in partnership with Granollers.