Milan, July 2, 2026 – The clay courts at the Aspria Harbour Club are typically red. Today, however, they are tinged with a deep blue—mirroring the sky that has cleared over Milan, allowing the sun to shine on an unforgettable day for Italian tennis at the 2026 Aspria Tennis Cup (Trofeo BCS).
The second round of the Milan ATP Challenger has concluded with a staggering result: four Italians have advanced to the quarterfinals. Following Dalla Valle’s success yesterday, Martin Manzano, Basile, and Cecchinato also punched their tickets today. This triumph sets the stage for a Friday, July 3rd schedule dominated by Italian talent: play begins with Heide vs. Dalla Valle at 10:00 AM; followed—not before 11:30 AM—by Basile vs. Cecchinato and Diaz Acosta vs. Martin Manzano; and concluding with Comesana vs. Rincon, not before 2:00 PM.
The Matches
You could tell right from the start that this would be a day to remember for Italian tennis; the tone was set by the first two matches, played simultaneously on Centre Court and Court 10. Pierluigi Basile and Juan Cruz Martin Manzano—the tournament’s two wild cards—took to the court, and together, they put on a show.
Martin Manzano fought hard, came within a whisker of victory, stumbled, and bounced back to defeat Spaniard Jorda Sanchis 6-0, 5-7, 6-3. His lightning-fast start hit a speed bump in the second set, when he was just two points away from the win—leading 5-4 with the score at 30-15 in his favor. A brief lapse allowed his opponent to reel off three consecutive games, but it was only a momentary setback; the Italian regained his composure and rediscovered his best tennis. “I got a bit frustrated at the end of the second set,” he said after the match. “I was ahead and close to victory against a stronger opponent, so I was disappointed to have missed the chance. But then I reset and started fresh. I feel good physically, and I really like this tournament. I train nearby, so it feels like a home tournament; I’m here with my family, my friends, and my girlfriend.”
Pierluigi Basile got off to a flying start, immediately taking a 5-1 lead over the Dane Moller with sparkling tennis; he won the first set, but the second became a rollercoaster of breaks and counter-breaks. His opponent led 4-2, but that was when “Pigi” brought out his best, regaining his aggression and mental focus. He won four consecutive games, aided by a gift from Moller—who committed two double faults in the decisive game—handing the quarter-final spot to the Italian; the final score was 6-4, 6-4. “I played well, staying aggressive and stepping inside the baseline. I managed to dictate play when I wanted to; it wasn’t easy because he constantly put me under pressure, and I also got more frustrated than I should have,” Basile said after the match. “In the second set, trailing 4-2, I started serving well again, consistently landing first serves and hitting three aces. That was the turning point for the comeback. In the quarter-finals, I’ll keep playing my game; I’ve worked hard over the last few weeks.”
Marco Cecchinato then won the all-Italian clash against Brancaccio. The first set went smoothly, but Brancaccio fought back in the second, even serving for the set at one point. Here, the player from Palermo used his superior experience to force a tie-break, which he then dominated 7-1; the final score was 6-2, 7-6. “It wasn’t easy playing against a friend like Raul; we’ve known each other for a very long time. Defending the title motivates me to give my all; I felt more tension in the first round, whereas today I made very few errors and played well during all the key moments. I feel physically fit and can’t wait to get back on court for the quarter-finals,” said Cecchinato, the defending champion in Milan, after the match. It is a shame for Daniele Rapagnetta, who was unable to overcome the Argentine left-hander Diaz Acosta—a former tournament winner and world number 120. The decisive 6-2, 6-1 defeat does not, however, overshadow Rapagnetta’s strong week, during which he successfully qualified and advanced past the first round.
Martin Manzano (ITA) def. Jorda Sanchis (ESP): 6-0, 5-7, 6-3
Basile (ITA) def. Moller (DEN): 6-4, 6-4
Diaz Acosta (ARG) def. Rapagnetta (ITA): 6-2, 6-1
Cecchinato (ITA) def. Brancaccio (ITA): 6-2, 7-6
The Quarter-Finals
Friday, July 3, promises to be a memorable day for the 2026 Aspria Tennis Cup, featuring no fewer than four Italians in the quarter-finals. It is an unmissable schedule kicking off at 10:00 AM: the action begins with Heide vs. Dalla Valle, followed—not before 11:30 AM—by Basile vs. Cecchinato and Diaz Acosta vs. Martin Manzano, before concluding with Comesana vs. Rincon (not before 2:00 PM).
Admission to the club is by ticket only. Fans can already book seats in the stands at the Aspria Harbour Club on Via Cascina Bellaria; tickets—including those for the new Hospitality Area—are available via the Ticketone network. Alternatively, a ticket office is open at the club itself.
