Lajovic sets Zverev clash in Buenos Aires, where defending champ falls

Dusan Lajovic headlined a Serbian surge on Monday, the first day of main-draw action of the IEB+ Argentina Open in Buenos Aires.

The 34-year-old clawed past Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6(8), 7-5 in a grueling two hours and 21 minutes to reach the second round of the ATP 250 event.

“I always like to come back here. It’s beautiful. I love the people, I love the city, I love the food, I love playing on clay,” Lajovic said in his on-court interview. “I love hot weather, not like today. Ten degrees less and it’s perfect. But it’s always good to be back here.

“I feel like I’m getting old because this is the 11th time here. Some of these guys are playing for the first time and I feel it. I feel it. But I’m happy to win today.”

Pick of the bunch 🍇@Dutzee enters warrior mode to down Carballes Baena 7-6(8) 7-5@ArgentinaOpen | #ArgOpen2025 pic.twitter.com/V7nBtzlKvM

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 10, 2025

According to Infosys ATP Stats, Lajovic only saved one of the five break points he faced, but the No. 81 player in the PIF ATP Rankings earned five service breaks to squeak past Carballes Baena.

The four-time Buenos Aires quarter-finalist will next play top seed Alexander Zverev, who is making his tournament debut. Zverev leads the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series 4-0.

Another Serbian who advanced was qualifier Laslo Djere. The 2019 Rio de Janeiro champion eliminated Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-3, 6-3 in 75 minutes.

The defending champion will not retain the trophy. Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild rallied past last year’s winner Facundo Diaz Acosta 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Diaz Acosta hit 11 aces and saved seven of the 11 break points he faced, but it was not enough. Seyboth Wild will face another Argentine, sixth seed Sebastian Baez or Camilo Ugo Carabelli, in the second round.

In the last match of the evening, Mariano Navone won an all-Argentine clash against Francisco Comesana 6-4, 6-4.