Monday’s schedule included three main draw matches, but a three-hour rain interruption slowed the schedule. The intense work of the ASPRIA Harbor Club field workers meant that play resumed around 4.30pm, allowing all the qualifying matches to be completed (at past 9pm). Of the six players admitted to the main draw, two are Italian. The expert Federico Gaio won a far from banal match against the rampant Brazilian Joao Eduardo Schiessl and confirms that he still has a few shots in the tank, after having experienced the thrill of working in the organizational staff at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and the Challenger Turin. His body is intact and the ball is still traveling: the ranking is languishing a bit, but who knows, maybe Milan might be able to give him the points he needs to get closer to Challenger level. Excellent news also from Federico Arnaboldi, winner of two matches in one day: the Lombard beat Moez Echargui in the morning and Raul Brancaccio in a match that ended after 8pm. Great battle in the second set, in which he came back from 5-2 down, also canceling a set point at 5-3 and closing on the fourth matchpoint of a tense tie-break, which ended 9-7. Valuable victories, achieved against better placed opponents than him. Accompanied in Milan by his cousin Andrea, he is confirming the excellent form shown in recent months. Gifted with very pleasant tennis, watching him play makes you wonder why he is number 472 ATP (and has never gone higher than 428th position). He has just turned 24 and is perhaps a little behind the hopes of a few years ago, but if the path is right he still has time to build a robust career. In the draw he will face the other qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez. All the first round matches are scheduled for Tuesday: they will be played on four courts starting from 10 in the morning, with nine Azzurri involved. To follow, of course, the Sicilian derby between Marco Cecchinato and the baby Francesco Cinà.
ASPRIA TENNIS CUP – BCS TROPHY (€74,825, clay)
First Qualifying Round
Joao Eduardo Schiessl (BRA) vs. Alexander Weis (ITA) 6-1 7-5
Mathys Erhard (FRA) b. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-4 3-6 6-3
Federico Arnaboldi (ITA) b. Moez Echargui (TUN) 6-3 6-4
Raul Brancaccio (ITA) b. Joel Schwaerzler (AUT) 5-7 6-4 6-0
Carlos Taberner (SPA) b. Marcello Serafini (ITA) 6-1 7-5
Gastao Elias (POR) b. Giovanni Oradini (ITA) 6-3 6-4
Qualifying Round
Ignacio Buse (PER) b. Riccardo Bonadio (ITA) 6-2 6-2
Federico Agustin Gomez (ARG) b. Alessandro Giannessi (ITA) 7-6(7) 6-4
Federico Gaio (ITA) b. Joao Eduardo Schiessl (BRA) 7-6(5) 1-6 6-3
Gabriel Debru (FRA) b. Mathys Erhard (FRA) 3-6 6-3 7-6(6)
Carlos Taberner (SPA) b. Gastao Elias (POR) 6-3 5-7 6-3
Federico Arnaboldi (ITA) b. Raul Brancaccio (ITA) 6-3 7-6(7)
