PORTO ALEGRE/STARNBERG, May 3, 2024
Three qualifiers have reached the quarterfinals of the Brasil Tennis Open, an ATP Challenger Tour 50 clay-court tournament being held in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Home favourite Karue Sell eased past his compatriot Pedro Boscardin Dias 6-3, 6-0 in Thursday’s second round. The 30-year-old Jaragua do Sul native, who eliminated top seed Calvin Hemery of France in his opening match this week, saved the only two break points he faced and capitalized on four of his own six break-point chances to succeed in one hour and 11 minutes.
The dream week continues for @KarueSell 💫
The 30-year-old reaches his maiden Challenger quarterfinal after cruising past Boscardin Dias 6-3, 6-0 in Porto Alegre!#ATPChallenger | @cbtenis pic.twitter.com/tSSy7ZGBZJ
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 2, 2024
In his first career quarterfinal at Challenger level Sell will take on Facundo Mena of Argentina, who defeated Japanese qualifier Kaichi Uchida 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 48 minutes.
“We know each others from juniors,” Sell said of his upcoming task.
Mena is also looking forward to the encounter and added: “I heard that he had been working in the United States with great players and well, if he is in the quarterfinals here, he is playing well, we all are, let’s see.”
The World No. 555 will be joined by fellow qualifiers Guido Ivan Justo from Argentina and Bolivian teenager Juan Carlos Prado. Justo beat Roberto Cid Subervi of the Dominican Republic 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 33 minutes to meet Brazilian lucky loser Daniel Dutra Silva next. Prado benefited from the retirement of home favourite Mateus Alves. The 19-year-old was leading 5-1 in the first set when Alves was forced to stop playing. Up next for Prado will be Gonzalo Bueno of Peru.
Eighth favourite and last seeded player standing in the singles draw, Ergi Kirkin of Turkey, and Argentine alternate Juan Bautista Torres round out the final eight.
