Lhe first day of the fifth edition of the Córdoba Open set a record in the history of the tournament. Bernabé Zapata prevailed in the fratricidal duel with Roberto Carballés in the longest confrontation that was played in the contest and that lasted 3 hours and 26 minutes.
The previous mark corresponded to another party with a Spanish presence between Albert Ramos and Pablo Andujarin 2020, which went until 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Zapata finally closed a favorable score with a comeback included: 6-7(6), 6-3 and 7-5. The duration is still far from the historical limit of a three-set match. Roger Federer defeated Juan Martín del Potro in the semifinals of the 2012 London Games after 4 hours and 26 minutes of fighting.
“It has been a battle. When two Spaniards play on the ground there are always many exchanges,” summed up Bernabé, who opened his record of victories this season. In the second round he awaits the winner of the match between Daniel Elahi Galán and Tomás Barrios.
Andujar abandons
For his part, Andújar was forced to leave when he lost to local wild card Juan Manuel Cerúndolo with a score of 6-4, 1-0.
Cerúndolo will meet Diego Schwartzman, the first favorite, in the round of 16, so the presence of an Argentine in the quarterfinals is already assured.
Two other members of the ‘Armada’ appear in the painting, Pedro Martinez and Ramos. The second, defending champion, is exempt from the initial round as the third favorite and will debut with Dusan Lajovic. Martínez will see them start against the Chilean Cristian Garín.
