MURCIA/STARNBERG, March 19, 2025
Wild card entries Ivan Gakhov and Pablo Llamas Ruiz from Real Murcia Club de Tenis 1919 advanced to the second round of the Challenger Costa Calida Region de Murcia. Gakhov upset third-seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, winning 6-3, 6-4, while Llamas Ruiz convincingly defeated India’s Sumit Nagal 6-4, 6-1.
However, the rest of the club’s players were unable to progress at the ATP Challenger Tour 75 event in south-eastern Spain. Andrea Pellegrino fell to No. 2 seed Jesper de Jong from the Netherlands 3-6, 3-6, Raul Brancaccio lost a hard-fought match against Valentin Vacherot 6-7, 7-6, 3-6, and Javier Barranco Cosano was defeated 2-6, 1-6 by Nicolai Budkov.
Alongside Gakhov and Llamas Ruiz, several other players also secured their spots in the next round. Albert Ramos came from behind to beat Bernabe Zapata 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, Kyrian Jacquet edged past Nicolás Alvarez 6-3, 7-6, and Carlos Taberner overcame Vilius Gaubas 7-5, 3-6, 6-1. Kimmer Coppejans advanced with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 win over Sebastian Ofner, while Denis Yevseyev triumphed over Justin Engel 6-4, 6-7, 6-4.
In the final singles matches on Wednesday, Elmer Moller secured a tough 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory against Miguel Damas. Daniel Rincon delivered a dominant performance, crushing Gabriele Pennaforti 6-0, 6-3. Meanwhile, Daniel Merida pulled off an impressive win over Marin Cilic, defeating the Croatian veteran 6-2, 6-4.
Murcia memories
Spain’s Daniel Merida finds his A Game to down former world No.3 Cilic 6-2, 6-4!#ATPChallenger | @MurciaClubTenis pic.twitter.com/r9eXQ0Un9n
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 19, 2025
