Hugo Dellien makes strong debut at Genoa Challenger

Hugo Dellien followed last week’s runner-up finish at the Porto Challenger with a confident opening win in Genoa, defeating Brazil’s Felipe Meligeni 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday.

The Bolivian, currently his country’s highest-ranked tennis player, needed one hour and 12 minutes to complete the first-round victory on Court 2 at Valletta Cambiaso’s Stadio Beppe Croce. Dellien entered the tournament as the fourth seed.

He controlled the decisive moments of both sets. The first contained one service break, in the fourth game, while the second featured two, in the fifth and seventh games. The result sends Dellien into the last 16 of the Italian tournament, which is holding its 22nd edition this season.

His next opponent will be Croatia’s Matej Dodig, who advanced after Italy’s Franco Agamenone retired while trailing 6-3, 4-0. Dellien and Dodig have already met twice this year, and Dellien won both matches: 6-1, 6-4 in the second qualifying round at Roland Garros and 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the Challenger in Trieste, Croatia. Their third meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, although the start time has not yet been set.