TWO ATP 250 events began this week, with proceedings starting up at the Sardegna Open in Cagliari, Italy, and the AnyTech365 Andalucia Open in Marbella, Spain.

At Sardegna, both seeds fell on Day 1 of the main event with seventh seed Argentinian Guido Pella and eighth seed Tommy Paul unable to overcome their respective lower ranked opposition. For Pella, it was a straight sets 6-4 6-0 loss to Belarusian Egor Gerasimov that saw him eliminated in under 90 minutes, with a shoddy service game allowing Gerasimov to maintain the upper hand. As for Paul, the American stole back the second set after going down 7-6(8) in the first, before falling at the third hurdle in the two hour and 56-minute blockbuster, as his German opposition in Yannick Hanfmann reigned supreme 7-6 5-7 6-3.

In the remaining two matches, Laslo Djere and Aljaz Bedene both remain in the hunt after collecting wins over a duo of Italian wildcards in Federico Gaio and Guilio Zeppieri, respectively. Whilst Djere collected a relatively straightforward 6-4 6-2 win over Gaio, Bedene was tested by 19-year-old Zeppieri, claiming a three-set victory 1-6 7-6 7-6 after a shocking first set.

SARDEGNA OPEN ROUND OF 32 RESULTS: 

Egor Gerasimov (BLR) defeated [7] Guido Pella (ARG) 6-4 6-0
Yannick Hanfmann (GER) defeated [8] Tommy Paul (USA) 7-6 5-7 6-3
Laslo Djere (SRB) defeated [WC] Federico Gaio (ITA) 6-4 6-2
Aljaz Bedene (SLO) defeated [WC] Giulio Zeppieri (ITA) 1-6 7-5 7-6

Three matches went all the way in Marbella, with just one match completed in two sets. The tournament also saw the complete opposite result to Sardegna as the seventh and eighth seeds in Soonwoo Kwon and Federico Delbonis both remain in the hunt following wins. Kwon’s first round victory came over 17-year-old Dane Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune, and the young gun put in the hard yards before the Korean reigned supreme in a two hour and 23 minute, 6-3 3-6 7-6 encounter. Comparatively, Delbonis downed Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in the only two-setter of the day, coming away with the 7-5 6-1 victory in one hour and 40 minutes.

Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis reigned supreme in a hard fought 6-4 6-7 7-5 win against Frenchman Lucas Pouille, going the full distance in the two hour and 49-minute matchup. Whilst Pouille was solid on return, not allowing Berankis to hit a single ace, Pouille hit six aces for six double faults on his way to the first round loss. Meanwhile, Norbert Gombos defeated Juan Ignacio Londero in just over two hours despite a closely contested first set, coming away with the 6-7 6-1 6-3 victory.

ANYTECH365 ANDALUCIA OPEN ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[7] Soonwoo Kwon (KOR) defeated [WC] Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune (DEN) 6-3 3-6 7-6
[8] Federico Delbonis (ARG) defeated Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) 7-5 6-1
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) defeated Lucas Pouille (FRA) 6-4 6-7 7-5
Norbert Gombos (SVK) defeated Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) 6-7 6-1 6-3