BASILE ADVANCES AT A SAMBA STEP, IN PERUGIA HE IS IN THE SEMIFINALS “RIGHT NOW I’M PLAYING WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE RANKING” FIFTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY FOR FATIC Perugia, 13 June 2025 – From the qualifiers to the semifinals, the stories of Pierluigi Basile and Nerman Fatic make the Tennis Club Perugia dream. In the afternoon, the first semifinal of the 10th edition of the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup, an ATP Challenger 125 tournament organized by MEF Tennis Events, was defined. The 2007-born Apulian, playing for the Tennis Training School of Foligno, opened the day at the Centre Court with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Federico Arnaboldi, which earned him the first semifinal of his career in the category. He will face Bosnian Nerman Fatic, who eliminated the fast-moving Dalibor Svrcina 6-4 7-6(6). With his fifth victory of his tournament, Fatic won the 12th match of his career in the Umbrian tournament, where he had already reached the quarterfinals twice starting from which. In the evening, at 8:30 p.m., Francesco Passaro will hunt for a place in the semifinals in the derby against Andrea Pellegrino. Fresh and brilliant, Basile enchants Perugia – The one-handed backhand would be enough as a business card, but Pierluigi Basile's tennis really has everything to keep the public glued to the stands. With the carefree attitude of his eighteen years, he has earned a place in the first Challenger semifinal of his career, which virtually places him among the top 600 in the world with a jump of over 200 positions. “Yesterday I had dinner with some friends, I had to relax after the victory, then last night it was hot and I didn’t sleep very well. There was a bit of tension for the match, but once on the
“I WANT TO WIN AT HOME, I’VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF IT” WAWRINKA, THE ARM IS NOT ENOUGH. BUT WHAT A SHOW Perugia, 10 June 2025 – In the name of Francesco Passaro, the Tennis Club Perugia dreams big for this edition of the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup. In front of a sold-out centre court, the home player won the first round derby against Francesco Maestrelli 6-3 6-3 and in the second round he will face Viktor Durasovic. The highlight of the evening was the challenge between three-time Slam champion Stan Wawrinka and former world number 39 Radu Albot. In a contest with a wide tennis content, the Moldovan prevailed 6-4 7-6(3) and on Thursday he will face Pierluigi Basile. At 40 years old, loudly supported by the crowd, he clung to the score until the end. In the second set he earned the tie-break after saving two match points in the tenth game, but Radu Albot was perfect in the final moments: “The match? Stan served well and hit hard. I am very happy with this performance and the Perugia Central Court was fantastic, even if they were rooting for Wawrinka”. Passaro, the second round on Thursday – The Central Court of the Perugia Tennis Club was already filled to the brim in the late afternoon for Francesco Passaro’s debut. The home player, seventh seed, began his adventure in the tournament with a derby victory against Francesco Maestrelli. It ended 6-3 6-3 for the Perugian, who saved two break points in the second set, avoiding a 2-4. From that moment on he was perfect against a rival who had beaten him in two of the previous three: “He is a great player and I hope he returns to the ranking he deserves. In the
WAWRINKA: “WILD CARD IMPORTANT, I'M READY TO DO WELL” BASILE FLIES INTO MAIN DRAW. TRAVAGLIA BEATS TOMIC Perugia, 9 June 2025 – After the tasty appetizer of the qualifications, the 10th edition of the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup has finally raised the curtain on the main draw. The cadet draw closed in the morning, with Pierluigi Basile, Federico Bondioli and Gabriele Piraino winning: with them, the number of Italians in the main draw rises to twelve. Meanwhile, on the courts of the Tennis Club Perugia, expectations are growing for the most anticipated debut: that of Stan Wawrinka, who tomorrow at 8:30 pm will make his debut in the ATP Challenger 125 tournament by MEF Tennis Events against Radu Albot. But first, at 6:00 pm, it will be Francesco Passaro's turn. The Perugian is called to a debut that is anything but simple: in the all-Italian derby against Francesco Maestrelli. All set for Wawrinka's debut - After his first training session on Sunday, Stan Wawrinka returned to the court today for a session with Dusan Lajovic, former ATP number 23. Lots of fans flocked to the Tennis Club Perugia to admire the shots of the three-time Slam champion, who appeared to be in good condition. "I'm happy to be in Perugia, I love Italy and the club is fantastic: these first two days have gone well," said Stan, who will challenge Radu Albot tomorrow night. "I thank MEF Tennis Events for this important wild card, obviously I want to do well. Right now I'm thinking about the present and in the coming months I want to get back into the top 100. How do I find motivation? Dreams and goals are created every day. Maybe I step onto the court with a few more limitations
THE 3-TIME SLAM CHAMPION AMONG THE PROTAGONISTS IN UMBRIA ATP CHALLENGER SCHEDULED FROM 8 TO 16 JUNE Perugia, 3 June 2025 – The first surprise of the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup has arrived: the former world number 3 and winner of 3 Slam tournaments, Stan Wawrinka, has received a wild card from MEF Tennis Events and will play the Challenger 125 scheduled from 8 to 16 June. The tenth edition of the Umbrian event is enriched by one of the most prestigious names in the history of tennis, further increasing the curiosity of fans and professionals who were already ready to fill the stands of the Tennis Club Perugia during the days of the tournament. Slam, Davis, record: ‘Stan the Man’ arrives in Perugia – Stan Wawrinka is part of a small list of professionals who need no introduction. The Swiss born in 1985 has over 570 victories on the major circuit and has played 4 finals at Slam level, winning 3 of them against players in first place in the ATP rankings. Between the success at the 2014 Australian Open against Rafael Nadal and the one at the 2016 US Open against Novak Djokovic there is the most precious pearl of his career, namely the triumph at Roland Garros in 2015 against one of the best versions of the same ‘Nole’. Wawrinka also has a Masters 1000 in his trophy cabinet, won in the final against Roger Federer in Monte-Carlo in 2014; this is in fact his proverbial golden year, considering that in that same season he led Switzerland to victory in the Davis Cup together with Federer himself. Despite the passing of the years, the sacred fire of the Swiss has remained unchanged, so much so that he continues his tennis journey
PERUGIA CHALLENGER TURNS 10 ENTRY LIST REVEALED: NARDI, PASSARO AND GIGANTE ARE INCLUDED THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE PRESENTED ON MAY 30 Perugia, May 20, 2025 – The Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup is celebrating a historic tenth edition. From June 8 to 15, the Umbrian capital will host the ATP Challenger 125 organized by MEF Tennis Events, between the show on the clay courts of the Perugia Tennis Club and the numerous initiatives accompanying a birthday of great value. After the start of the Italian tradition of the last two seasons, with Edoardo Lavagno finalist in 2023 and the current ATP number 45 Luciano Darderi champion in the last edition, the entry list still promises numerous Italian tennis players ready to have their say. Also for this year, G.I.Ma. confirms itself as the title sponsor of the event, with the essential and constant contribution to give another week of great tennis in Umbria. The press conference to present the event is scheduled for Friday, May 30 at 12:00 inside the Tennis Club Perugia. The entry list speaks Italian: at least six Italians in the main draw – Already in 2024 the Italian wave had overflowed on the red clay of Perugia, and in 2025 this tradition is destined to continue. The entry list of the ATP Challenger 125 led by world number 63 Roberto Carballes Baena can count on at least six Italians in the main draw, awaiting the results of the qualifications and wild cards. Among them, the name of Luca Nardi stands out: the ATP number 94 is considered one of the most crystalline talents on the national tennis scene and as the number three seed he aims to give impetus to his season. With him there is also the host Francesco Passaro,
DARDERI PRINCE OF UMBRIA: AFTER TODI THERE IS PERUGIA In ten months only one thing has changed: everything. In August Luciano Darderi won the Todi Challenger as number 250 in the world, today he triumphs at the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup and reaches the Top 40. An overwhelming performance by the 2002 class who will represent Italy at the Olympic Games in Paris, nothing to do for Sumit Nagal defeated 6-1 6-2. The new ATP number 34, as well as number 3 in Italy, won the third Challenger of his career without losing a set. Respecting the predictions for the whole week was not a given, but Luciano managed not to disappoint the expectations of the public. The ninth edition of the ATP Challenger 125 tournament organized by MEF Tennis Events at the Tennis Club Perugia ended with the first victory of an Italian, after Edoardo Lavagno stopped in the final last year. Darderi: “The guys' cheering? It's beautiful because I had the same dream as them” – After the match point there was a blaze of applause for him, Luciano Darderi won the 2024 edition of the Perugia Challenger. The final against the tough Sumit Nagal ended with a peremptory 6-1 6-2 for the Italian, who got his hands on the second title of the season after the ATP 250 in Cordoba which a few months ago pushed him into the Top 100. The climb in the rankings was rapid and from Monday he will be number 34 in the world and number 3 in Italy, placing himself one position ahead of Matteo Arnaldi. “I didn’t expect such a fast final. Sumit is having a great season, coming off a Challenger win in Germany and he’s a tough opponent – the final comment