CUERNAVACA/STARNBERG, April 11, 2024
Two Canadians punched their tickets for the quarterfinals of the Morelos Open presentado por Metaxchange on Wednesday in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Veteran Vasek Pospisil battled past Tristan Schoolkate of Australia 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2. The 33-year-old wild card entry sent down nine aces and won 61 per cent of his first-service points to advance in two hours and seven minutes.
Pospisil, a winner of 11 singles titles on the ATP Challenger Tour, will next take on Colombian qualifier Nicolas Mejia, who beat Dominik Palan of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 43 minutes.
That backhand crosscourt pass 🔥
Great stuff from @nicomejia00 as he defeats Palan to reach the quarterfinals in Cuernavaca!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/rCY2jAoita
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) April 10, 2024
“I am feeling good I am happy to be through. My opponent was serving really well. I had a bad end in first set making some unforced errors. But I found a moment to turn it around, so I am happy,” said Pospisil.
“The crowd was amazing. I love coming to Mexico. The fans are so passionate. Every time I am in this country, people are so nice. I am looking forward to Friday.”
World No. 699 Pospisil will be joined by his compatriot Alexis Galarneau in the stage of the final eight at the $82,000 hard-court event. The 25-year-old Laval native defeated qualifier Facundo Mena of Argentina 7-6(3), 6-1. Galarneau broke his rival’s four two times and won 57 per cent of the total points played to succeed in one hour and 36 minutes.
Galarneau will meet US-American Maxime Cressy next. The No. 6 seed edged past Juan Pablo Ficovich of Argentina 7-6(6), 6-1 in one hour and 32 minutes.
