SEVILLA/STARNBERG, September 6, 2024
Roberto Carballes Baena leads the semi-finals line-up of the LXI Copa Sevilla. The top seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 125 tournament fought past fellow Spaniard Oriol Roca Batalla 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 on Thursday.
Carballes Baena has now claimed 13 consecutive wins on the clay of the Real Club de Tenis Betis. While it’s not the traditional albero surface this year anymore, the red clay also seems to bring good fortune to the player from Granada.
However, Carballes Baena faced one of his toughest tests in recent editions of the tournament. Roca Batalla put up a strong fight at times but couldn’t maintain the consistency needed in the decisive set, eventually falling to the World No. 55 after two hours and 13 minutes.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match,” said Carballes Baena. “In the second set, I dropped my intensity a bit and he played much more aggressively. I told myself I needed to change something in the third set because if I kept waiting for him to make mistakes, things wouldn’t go well. I’m happy with the win.”
The 31-year-old defending champion will now face his rival of the final last year, taking on No. 8 seed Calvin Hemery, who is proving day by day why he considers the Copa Sevilla his favorite tournament. The 29-year-old French eliminated fourth favourite Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain with a dominant performance, hitting hard from both sides of the court to secure a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory in one hour and 47 minutes.
Altmaier advances
In the bottom half of the draw, Daniel Altmaier edged past Argentine Santiago Rodriguez Taverna 7-5, 6-2. The No. 3 seed from Germany struck six aces and won 77 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 44 minutes.
Altmaier seals the deal 🤝
The German moves into the Seville semifinals after a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Rodriguez Taverna#ATPChallenger | @daniel_altmaier pic.twitter.com/MVq2mDgjon
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 5, 2024
Up next for Altmaier will be Alexander Ritschard from Switzerland, who ended the run of local wild card entry David Jorda Sanchis, winning 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 32 minutes.
