GUIA DE ISORA/STARNBERG, February 29, 2024
Two young Spanish wild card entries have reached the quarterfinals of the Tenerife Challenger 3. Daniel Merida rallied from a set down to overcome Italian qualifier Raul Brancaccio 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(2) on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Madrid native capitalized on five of his 12 break-point opportunities and won 52 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 46 minutes. Merida, a winner of three titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour and currently ranked on a career-high World No. 401, will appear in the stage of the last eight at ATP Challenger level for the first time.
cuartos de final Challenger en carrera
Daniel Merida remonta a Raul Brancaccio (3-6 6-1 7-6) para entrar en el club de los mejores ocho en Tenerife @ATPChallenger | @RFETenis #tennis #TenerifeChallenger #VisitTenerife #Tenerife #AwakenEmotions pic.twitter.com/DwiBSX6ESM
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) February 29, 2024
Up next for the teenager will be Kazakh veteran Mikhail Kukushkin, who defeated Dimitar Kuzmanov of Bulgaria 6-4, 7-5 in two hours and eight minutes.
Landaluce into quarterfinals
Meanwhile, Martin Landaluce benefited from the retirement of his compatriot and qualifier Carlos Lopez Montagud. The 18-year-old from Madrid was leading 6-2, 4-1 when Lopez Montagud was forced to stop playing due to a right foot injury.
“Three times I had lost here in the third set tie-break, so luck has changed a bit even though it’s not the best way to win. I feel particularly sorry for Carlos, who is a friend,” said Landaluce. “However, I’m playing quite well here, so I’m going into the next match with confidence and hope to reach the first Challenger semifinal of my career.”
Landaluce will next play Lukas Neumayer of Austria, who battled past Danish qualifier August Holmgren 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 after two hours and 29 minutes.
THURSDAY RESULTS
Singles – Second Round
Daniel Merida (WC) b. Raul Brancaccio (Q) 3-6 6-1 7-6(2)Mikhail Kukushkin (Q) b. Dimitar Kuzmanov 6-4 7-5
Martin Landaluce (WC) b. Carlos Lopez Montagud 6-2 4-1 ret.
Lukas Neumayer b. August Holmgren (Q) 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4
Order of Play | Friday 30 February
Cuartos de final en el Abama Tennis Academy
️ https://t.co/B7XXsdj4Om #tennis #TenerifeChallenger #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/qqMmn6yqYL
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) February 29, 2024
