Bautista Agut another joy is given in Rome | ATP Tour

Roma

Bautista Agut gives another joy in Rome

The Spanish played Party No. 700 of his career

May 08, 2025

Roberto Bautista Agut underlined a priority for the final stretch of his career: enjoy every moment. And the picturesque environment of Rome seems an ideal scenario to meet that purpose.

At 37, the Castellón landed in the internal Bnl d’Italia with the bag of merits full, well charged after two decades to the highest level in the ATP Tour. In one of the most emblematic enclaves of the circuit, the Spanish gave a big debut this Thursday, surpassing 6-4, 6-3 to Italian Matteo Arnaldi, one of the local favorites in a recent form.

“A victory always knows well. Playing on such a track is always an opportunity to enjoy,” Baptist acknowledged after closing the game in the CentralE field. “The atmosphere has been incredible, I have tried to enjoy even if he was playing at home. I think I have made a very good game, concentrated and I must feel happy.”

The triumph of the Levantino was a demonstration of capacity in a temple of tennis, those he has known based on effort and struggle throughout his career. Far from lowering the arms in the veteran, Bautista has managed to add victories this year in Montecarlo, Madrid and Rome, catching at least one match in the three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments that make up the European clay tour. A milestone that did not achieve since 2021, before suffering a bone lesion that threatened to put the brush to his career.

Become one of the most experienced players of the circuit, Bautista faces a different reality at this time. Accustomed to dealing with the defeats, with a balance of 4-11 in 2025 when arriving in Rome, the Spanish recognized days ago in the Magic Box the difficulty of tracing the flight in the veteran. A mission that has sustained with both hands this Thursday in the Centrale Roman field.

“You never know when you are going to play for the last time in a stadium like this or in a tournament of this type,” said the Castellón, applauded from the stands by his coach Pepe Vendrell. “I am trying to enjoy and make my best tennis. I have had a wonderful career and I still have passion for sport to my 37 years.”

Now, Bautista will have the opportunity to measure his level against a splendor player. The Spanish will play the second round of Rome against the American Tommy Paul, eleventh head of the series and one of the most respected figures in the upper part of the painting. A totally equalized Lexus ATP2head history (3-3), with the three most recent victories in the hands of the American and an undefeated clay for the Spanish, promises show in the Italic forum.

Did you know that …?
Roberto Bautista Aguet played on Rome on Rome No. 700 of his career at a tour (422-278).