ATP Tel Aviv: Tomas Martin Etcheverry and an opening win with a sad history
Tomas Martin Etcherverry has surprisingly reached the second round of the Tel Aviv ATP 250 event. A victory with a special meaning, as the Argentine revealed afterwards.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Sep 27, 2022, 06:43 pm
It is not uncommon for tennis players to raise their hands and heads to the sky and send out a short prayer after a hard-fought victory. When Tomas Martin Etcheverry performed that ritual after the end of his surprising three-set win over Aslan Karatsev, who was six seeded, at the ATP 250 event in Tel Aviv, it was in the air that this victory had meant something special to the Argentine.
Because Etcheverry's first-round success has a sad history: it wasn't until Friday that the world number 87. lost his sister. And yet decided to compete in the Tel Aviv ATP 250 event. "I want to dedicate this win to my sister, whom I lost last Friday," said the Argentine after his opening win.
Etcheverry versus Safiullin
On the world rankings-87. a Russian opponent is again waiting in the round of the last 16, Tomas Martin Etcheverry has to deal with Roman Safiullin, who was able to prevail against the Frenchman Hugo Grenier in three sets at the start.
Top seeded at the ATP 250 event in Tel Aviv, Novak Djokovic goes to work, the Serb opens against the winner of the duel between Tiago Monteiro and Jaume Munar. The number two of the tournament is Marin Cilic, who meets Dominic Thiem at the start after a bye.