Argentine tennis player Federico Coria lost in straight sets to Matteo Berrettini (8) in the first round of the Argentina Open. According to the Argentine News Agency, the albiceleste, who is ranked 322nd in the ATP rankings, lost 7-5 and 7-5 to the Italian, who is ranked 58th in the world. Despite the defeat, the Argentine player leaves with a positive balance: he had been inactive for six months due to an operation on his elbow and had a dignified loss, even with brief moments of dominance, against a player who was in the top 10 for three years. Federico Coria's participation in the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires came to a quick end as he fell in two sets to the Italian Matteo Berrettini, the eighth seed and one of the title favorites. The 32-year-old player had to play very long games on his serve for much of the afternoon and evening, saving a total of seven break points in the first set, and fought hard to stay in the match, although he was eventually broken in the twelfth game, allowing Berrettini to take the set on his second set point. Starting the second set, with fatigue playing an important role, Coria had a very erratic start that caused him to be broken in his first service game and lose 11 of the first 12 points of the set. Nevertheless, despite being at a disadvantage 4-1, 'Mojarra', his pseudonym on social networks, found his best moment of the match and won three games in a row, including a break, to level the match, to the deafening encouragement of the public that filled the Guillermo Vilas stadium and spent the entire match singing in his favor. After receiving messages on his right forearm and finishing the match slightly cramped, Federico Coria was able to save a match point but did not succeed on the second one, with a drive that went wide and sealed the match against him. Despite the defeat, the 33-year-old Argentine has reasons to be proud: he returned to play after six months, had a notable match in which he briefly equaled the level of a great rival, and heard his name chanted by the Argentine public again. In turn, Berrettini needed two hours to secure the victory and will play against Czech Vit Kopriva (95th) next Wednesday, seeking a place in the quarterfinals of the Argentina Open.
