POZOBLANCO/STARNBERG, July 20, 2024
The top four seeds have reached the semi-finals of the Open Ciudad de Pozoblanco Memorial Fabián Dorado. However, all of them had to overcome tough matches in the stage of the last eight of the ATP Challenger Tour 50 hard-court event in Andalucia on Friday.
Top seed Antoine Escoffier had a bumpy start against Alberto Barroso Campos but eventually outlasted the Spaniard 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. The 32-year-old Frenchman, who has captured 15 titles on the ITF Pro Circuit and is bidding for his maiden Challenger crown this week in Pozoblanco, capitalized on seven of his 14 break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 55 minutes.
Escoffier will next take on his compatriot and No. 4 seed Robin Bertrand, who battled past Laurent Lokoli of France 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 36 minutes.
Egor Gerasimov also had to go the distance against first-time quarterfinalist at Challenger level Miguel Damas of Spain. The second-seeded Belarusian fired 17 aces and won 75 per cent of his first-service points to secure a 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(5) victory in two hours and 29 minutes.
Up next for Gerasimov will be No. 3 seed August Holmgren. The World No. 320 from Denmark beat Frenchman Dan Added 7-6(6), 7-6(3). Holmgren won 54 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 46 minutes.
🎾 Estamos despidiendo los cuartos del Open.
Y ya tenemos para vosotros…
¡Las últimas fotos de la noche!#TenisPozoblanco #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/wuscmGq4Fx
— Open Ciudad de Pozoblanco (@PozoblancoOpen) July 19, 2024
