SAO PAULO/STARNBERG, November 23, 2024
The penultimate week on of the 2024 season on the ATP Challenger Tour is in full swing. Two Chileans and two players from Argentina headline the action at the Alphaville Tenis Clube in Sao Paulo, Brazil, by reaching the semi-finals of the inaugural Torneio Internactional Masculino de Tenis Ano 7 – Engie Open.
Francisco Comesana defeated eighth-seeded home favourite Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday. The No. 3 seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court event fired 13 aces and won 72 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 14 minutes.
When your opponent gives you a high ✋
Great playing from @fran_comesana as he gets past Meligeni Alves to reach the semis in São Paulo#ATPChallenger | @AATenis pic.twitter.com/j0y9F7JS3u
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 22, 2024
The 24-year-old Argentine Comesana will take on in-from Chilean Matias Soto in the stage of the final four. Soto, champion of two ITF World Tennis Tour events this year, eased past Brazilian Gustavo Heide 6-1, 6-2 in only 58 minutes.
In the bottom half of the draw, Tomas Barrios Vera of Chile beat US-American qualifier Garrett Johns 6-3, 6-1. The No. 7 seed saved all three break points he faced and converted four of his own nine break-point opportunities to prevail after one hour and 12 minutes.
Up next for Barrios Vera will be Thiago Tirante. The fifth-seeded Argentine needed to go the distance against Hady Habib of Lebanon , winning 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 26 minutes.
