Did Darderi Triumph Over Barrios to Secure Quarterfinal Spot at Argentina Open?
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Buenos Aires, Feb 13 (NationPress) The Italian second seed Luciano Darderi made a strong impression at the Argentina Open on Friday, defeating Tomas Barrios from Chile with a decisive score of 6-1, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
Ranked No. 22 in the world, Darderi showcased his skills by delivering six aces and securing an impressive 95 percent of his first service points, completing the match in just 82 minutes on the outdoor clay courts of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
In contrast, Barrios, currently sitting at 114th, struggled, managing to win only 47 percent of his first serve points and committing 22 unforced errors during the match.
“This is the first time I have played on clay in five months, and I felt very at ease,” remarked the 23-year-old Darderi, who aims for his fifth career title. “Today’s match was excellent, and I felt great. He improved in the second set, but I’m just thrilled to be back in the quarterfinals here.”
Next, Darderi will face Pedro Martinez, who defeated local favorite Juan Cerundolo with a scoreline of 7-6 (5), 6-4.
In other matches during the round of 16, Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina triumphed over compatriot Mariano Navone with a score of 6-2, 7-5, while another local player, Sebastian Baez, outperformed Peru’s Ignacio Buse with a score of 6-4, 6-3.
Additionally, there has been significant news in football as former Argentina and Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli was dismissed by Atletico Mineiro following a disappointing start to the Brazilian Serie A season, as announced on Thursday.
The announcement came after Atletico's 3-3 draw against newly promoted Remo, a result that left the team in 15th place among 20 teams, having garnered only two points from three matches.
“Following a meeting on Thursday afternoon, both parties agreed to end the coach's tenure,” Atletico stated on their official website.
Sampaoli's record with Atletico includes 10 wins, 16 draws, and eight losses during his second term with the club, having previously managed in 2020 and 2021.
Assistant coach Lucas Goncalves will step in as interim manager until a new permanent coach is appointed, as confirmed by Atletico.