Rome, 18 February (LaPresse) – Francesco Passaro has made a good start at the Rio Open, an ATP 500 clay court tournament at the Jockey Club Brasileiro, the most prestigious tournament in Latin America (prize money $2,469,450). Back in the draw after the withdrawal of France's Alexandre Muller, the Perugia native (ATP 163) defeated Croatia's Dino Prizmic (122) 6-3, 6-4, whom he had beaten in their only previous meeting, in 2023 at the Trieste Challenger on clay. Luciano Darderi's run, on the other hand, came to an immediate end. The world number 21 lost 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The Argentine, ranked 78th in the ATP rankings, inflicted his third defeat in six head-to-head matches. Last Sunday, he was beaten in the final in Buenos Aires by Juan Manuel's brother, Francisco Cerundolo, Argentina's number one.
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