Resurgent Robredo Downs Fognini In Buenos Aires

Former champion Tommy Robredo’s season debut is off to a flying start with the 34-year-old seeing off No. 7 seed Fabio Fognini in the first round of the Argentina Open on Tuesday. The Spaniard inched ahead in the pair’s FedEx Head2Head series 5-4 with the 6-4, 6-3 result.

Having undergone right elbow surgery last season, the former World No. 16 in the Emirates ATP Rankings arrived in Buenos Aires on a protected ranking of No. 57. But against Fognini, there were few signs of any rust.

He broke the Italian four times in the one-hour, 13-minute affair. He will next face either Victor Estrella Burgos or Thiago Monteiro.

Robredo’s countryman, fifth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas, had a far more difficult task reaching the second round. Ramos-Vinolas narrowly edged home hopeful Guido Pella 6-7(8), 6-4, 7-6(6).

In a clash of former Top 20 players, Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov had a convincing win over Serbian wild card Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-3. Argentine wild card Carlos Berloq scored a 6-4, 6-4 result over Slovak qualifier Jozef Kovalik, while Berloq’s countrymen Guido Andreozzi and Renzo Olivo battled it out over three sets.

Qualifier Andreozzi emerged with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win, joining fellow qualifier, Italian Alessandro Giannessi, in the second round. Giannessi beat Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-4, saving a match point in the process.