Navone saves 2 MP and passes Monteiro at its premiere in Antwerp | ATP Tour

Antwerp

Navone saves 2 MP and passes Monteiro at its premiere in Antwerp

Tomás Etcheverry also advanced to R2

October 14, 2024

Mariano Navone is getting every last drop of juice out of his first season of experience on the ATP Tour and at the European Open in Antwerp he made it clear again this Monday that he is not someone who is difficult to give up.

The Argentine, in his debut on the indoor circuit, battled against the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro, in a vibrant and highly contested match, where he won with a final score of 6-3, 4-6 and 7-6 (2), after coming back from two match points and after two hours and 41 minutes of play.

After a first set in which he clearly dominated his rival, Navone had to continue fighting until the third and final set, when he saved two match points, one serving 4-5 and another in the final tiebreaker, in which the Brazilian was ahead by 4-2 and 6-5.

Navone, meanwhile, would finish the match by signing ten aces, and winning 80% of points with the first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Meanwhile, the Argentine saved three of the four break points he faced.

Now, the Argentine will seek to get into the top eight of a tournament for the fifth time, first on fast courts, and will face this Wednesday the winner of the duel between Hugo Gaston and Alexey Vatutin, coming from the qualifying stage, which will be measured this Tuesday.

For its part, Monday brought another Argentine joy, after Tomás Etcheverry’s victory against Richard Gasquet by a disputed 7-6 (4) and 6-4. Etcheverry hit 32 winners throughout the match and made the difference when he needed it most, in addition to becoming strong with the serve, and he served at 223 km/h.

The sixth seed now awaits the winner of the duel between Roberto Bautista Agut and Luca Van Assche.