Starts the South American tour and with it the possibility for many Latin Americans to earn important points for the rest of the year.
This Monday, the ATP 250 in Quito opens the traditional journey through the region. And it's Carlos Berlocq's time to debut.
The Argentine, currently 119th, starts his season in this tournament and will have a risky commitment when facing Casper Rudd, 19 years old, who is 122nd in the ATP ranking, but reached 108th. Rio 2017 semifinalist, Casper is the son of Christian Ruud, the best tennis player Norway has produced.
If he wins, the next opponent for the Argentine will be the Frenchman Gael Monfils (43rd; former No. 6), who ranks as the third seed on Ecuadorian soil and will be part of the Buenos Aires tournament next week.
At the same time, Víctor Estrella Burgos, three-time defending champion of the tournament, will face Thomaz Bellucci in Quito for the fourth consecutive time. All previous encounters, of course, resulted in the victory of the Dominican over the Brazilian.
For Tuesday, the debut of, among others, the Chilean Nicolás Jarry, eighth seed, against the Argentine Facundo Bagnis is scheduled. Another Argentine, Horacio Zeballos, fifth favorite, will face the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro. And the best Ecuadorian tennis player at the moment, Roberto Quiroz, a special guest, will play against the German Yannick Hanfmann.
Matches - 05/02 - First round
Corentin Moutet (FRA) def. Adrián Menéndez Maceiras (ESP) 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2
Stefano Travaglia (ITA) def. Pablo Andújar (ESP) 6-4, 5-7, 7-5
Casper Ruud (NOR) vs Carlos Berlocq (ARG)
Víctor Estrella Burgos (DOM) vs Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
Andrej Martin (SVK) def. Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA) 7-5, 6-4