Open Costa Del Sol: Wildcard Pezzota Secures Incredible Victory

Argentine wildcard Robertino Pezzota has secured his first victory on Tour since 2019, after coming through the field to win the Open Costa Del Sol this weekend.

The Argentinian made his return to the Tour after three years away last month, and this week, he came into the Challenger 3 level competition as the tournament’s wildcard in Fuengirola, Spain.

His started his week in the most emphatic fashion, beating top seed Ivan Perez in five games, recovering from losing the fourth game 16-14 to then take the decider on a tie-break 14-12 to secure the win.

Pezzota, who has been as high as World No.73 in the past, then downed another Spaniard, in Pablo Quintana Estevez, in straight games, before needing to go to five once more in the semi-finals. Another fourth game tie-break went against him, but he recovered to down No.5 seed Augusto Ortigosa to make it through to a first final since 2019.

The final would then also go to five, against Frenchman Edwin Clain, the No.2 seed for the competition. He took a two game advantage after winning the second 13-11, but saw Clain fight back to win both the third and fourth games by a 12-10 scoreline. For the third time in three days, Pezzota found himself going to a deciding game, but he came through it with flying colours. He won it 11-4 to secure the title, his first since 2019, and his 12th on Tour in total.

Results: Open Costa Del Sol
Final
[WC] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt [2] Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-2: 11-6, 13-11, 10-12, 10-12, 11-4 (91m)

Semi-Finals
[WC] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt [5] Augusto Ortigosa (ESP) 3-2: 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7 (89m)
[2] Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [6] Javier Martin (ESP) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 (18m)

Quarter Finals
[WC] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt [7] Pablo Quintana Estevez (ESP) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (47m)
[5] Augusto Ortigosa (ESP) bt [3] Nilo Vidal (ESP) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (37m)
[6] Javier Martin (ESP) bt [4] Lewis Doughty (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6 (56m)
[2] Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [8] Lowie Delbeke (BEL) 3-1: 12-10, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7 (29m)

First Round
[WC] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt [1] Ivan Perez (ESP) 3-2: 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 14-16, 14-12 (78m)
[7] Pablo Quintana Estevez (ESP) bt Pablo Dolz (ESP) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (47m)
[5] Augusto Ortigosa (ESP) bt Adam Sinkule (CZE) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (20m)
[3] Nilo Vidal (ESP) bt Lubos Walter (CZE) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 (18m)
[4] Lewis Doughty (ENG) bt Aaron Allpress (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-5, 5-11, 11-2 (41m)
[6] Javier Martin (ESP) bt Dariusz Filipowski (POL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 (19m)
[8] Lowie Delbeke (BEL) bt Mason Smales (NZL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (21m)
[2] Edwin Clain (FRA) bt Paul Gonzalez (FRA) 3-2: 11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5 (59m)