Buenos Aires
Home favourite Etcheverry makes fast start in Buenos Aires
Martinez, Dellien, Kopriva also win on Day 1
February 09, 2026
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Tomas Martin Etchverry is No. 54 in the PIF ATP Rankings (file photo).
By Vishakha Khandelwal
Tomas Martin Etcheverry made a winning start on his return to the IEB+ Argentina Open on Monday.
The Argentine, competing in the main draw in Buenos Aires for the fifth consecutive time, earned a 6-3, 6-4 win over Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino.
“It was an incredible match. Playing here in Buenos Aires in front of my people is super special,” he said. “I have a different energy when I play here and I’m super happy to get the first victory. I am looking forward for a long week here.
In his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Pellegrino, Etcheverry produced a dominant serving display. He fired seven aces and won 85 per cent (29/34) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, sailing to victory in one hour and 38 minutes.
The two-time quarter-finalist will next face Laslo Djere or fellow Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga.
In other action on the opening day of the tournament, 2025 semi-finalist Pedro Martinez cruised past Argentine qualifier Lautaro Midon 6-4, 6-1, earning his 50th tour-level clay-court win. The Spaniard saved 80 per cent (4/5) of the break points he faced.
Watch Highlights from Martinez vs. Midon:
Hugo Dellien set a second-round clash with top seed Francisco Cerundolo after defeating Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-1. The victory marked Dellien’s first tour-level win since defeating Thiago Seyboth Wild at the Masters 1000 event in Rome last May.
In the final match of the day, Vit Kopriva held his nerve to outlast Buenos Aires native Alex Barrena 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, who was making his ATP Tour debut.
