Nava’s Serve Overpowers Berrettini in Santiago
Under Santiago’s high-altitude sun, Emilio Nava turned Matteo Berrettini’s power against him, clinching a 6-3, 6-4 upset that signals the American’s clay-court arrival at the BCI Seguros Chile Open.
In the crisp Andean air of Santiago, Emilio Nava (Emilio Nava) stared down a serve that has toppled champions. The 24-year-old American, ranked No. 79 in the PIF ATP Rankings, outdueled former Top 10 star Matteo Berrettini (Matteo Berrettini) in a brisk 87-minute affair at the BCI Seguros Chile Open (BCI Seguros Chile Open). On his main-draw debut at this clay ATP 250, Nava saved all three break points and claimed 84 per cent (32/38) of his first-serve points, dictating terms from the baseline.
Berrettini’s booming deliveries, usually lethal, hung heavier in the thin air, allowing Nava to redirect them with flat returns and heavy topspin. The Italian, World No. 57, pushed crosscourt rallies but couldn’t crack Nava’s one–two pattern of serve and forehand. This marks Nava’s biggest win by PIF ATP Ranking since he downed Zizou Bergs (Zizou Bergs) in Toronto last July.
“A super tough opponent in Berrettini, with a big serve,” reflected Nava after his 87-minute victory. “Especially with the altitude, it was going to be an uphill battle, but mentally I was ready to do it and I was playing great. I was being positive and just competing.”
Super Emilio
Nava clinches a huge win, taking down Berrettini 6-3, 6-4 in Santiago 🇨🇱@chile_open | #ChileOpen pic.twitter.com/QRnjsfTXu5— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 24, 2026
Serve dominance shapes upset edge
Nava’s serving thrived at Santiago’s 570-meter elevation, where balls slice through the air quicker, amplifying flat strikes while testing spin control. He varied placement with inside-out serves to Berrettini’s backhand, forcing the Italian into defensive slices and shallow returns. This tactical shift turned potential vulnerabilities into control, as Nava converted his sole break chance per set with a sharp down-the-line forehand.
The crowd at the clay venue sensed the momentum tilt early in the first set, their murmurs building as Berrettini’s errors mounted in extended exchanges. Nava’s positivity kept him locked in, drawing from prior Chilean success—10 wins in his past 13 matches here, including last year’s Santiago Challenger semis and Concepcion Challenger title. That foundation eased the pressure of facing a big-server on rebound.
Altitude forges mental breakthroughs
Clay at altitude demands resets between points, with the extra bounce rewarding those who extend rallies without rushing. Nava pulled Berrettini wide with crosscourt topspin, then attacked inside-in to exploit openings, sapping the Italian’s power in the thinner oxygen. Mentally, he stayed present, turning the uphill battle into a steady climb that exposed Berrettini’s uneven post-injury form on slower surfaces.
Elsewhere in the draw, Elmer Moller (Elmer Moller) mirrored that resolve, outlasting Roman Andres Burruchaga (Roman Andres Burruchaga) 7-6(4), 0-6, 6-4 for his maiden ATP Tour main-draw win. The Dane rose 10 spots to No. 117 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and now faces top seed Francisco Cerundolo (Francisco Cerundolo), testing his grit in a potential quarterfinal.
Draw stirs with young advances
Vilius Gaubas (Vilius Gaubas) dispatched home favorite Matias Soto (Matias Soto) 6-2, 6-3, his baseline efficiency silencing the local support amid the day’s building heat. The Lithuanian sets up a second-round clash with Dino Prizmic (Dino Prizmic), pitting emerging talents against the court’s demanding tempo.
Mariano Navone (Mariano Navone) advanced when Vit Kopriva (Vit Kopriva) retired at 3-6, 6-0, 3-1, preserving the Argentine’s grinding style after his Rio semifinal run. Nava, eyeing Francesco Passaro (Francesco Passaro) or Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (Adolfo Daniel Vallejo) next, carries this surge forward. In a tournament where power yields to preparation, his blend of serve precision and clay adaptation hints at a run that could redefine his 2026 trajectory.
