CIUTADELLA DE MENORCA, April 4, 2025
Two Austrians headlined Friday’s action at the inaugural Open Menorca, but their paths took different turns. While Lukas Neumayer secured a confident victory to advance to the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger Tour 100 clay-court event, Sebastian Ofner saw his tournament run in singles come to an end.
Neumayer edged out No. 4 seed Elmer Moller of Denmark 6-3, 6-4. The 22-year-old Salzburg native overcame his opponent as well as the windy conditions at the Club Tenis Ciutadella. Neumayer dominated most of the rallies with his powerful forehand and broke Moller’s serve five times to succeed in one hour and 32 minutes.
Smooth like butter
Lukas Neumayer with the perfect touch in Menorca#ATPChallenger | @open_menorca pic.twitter.com/mvVnw32a3D
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) April 4, 2025
“I was the more solid player today. Elmer is a very good player. We had a very close match at the Australian Open this year. But I fought really well today until the final point and made the decisive points,” Neumayer told Tennis TourTalk afterwards. “In the past, I often lost matches where I was up a set or a break. Or I couldn’t serve it out in the end. Today, the last game was tight again and he put me under pressure. But things went really well in the end,” he added, being satisfied with his mature performance.
“It’s my first time in Menorca and it’s really nice here. The first days were even more windy but now the conditions are fine. There are many spectators in the stands and it’s fun to play here,” the World No. 208 added.
Neumayer will now take on Pol Martin Tiffon, who emerged victorious from the all-Spanish encounter with No. 5 seed Carlos Taberner, rallying 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 38 minutes.
Earlier in the day, Vilius Gaubas knocked off second-seed Sebastian Ofner 7-6(2), 6-2. The 20-year-old Lithuanian capitalized on four of his six break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 46 minutes. Gaubas will next take on Ignacio Buse of Peru, who ended the run of Hungarian qualifier Zsombor Piros following a 7-6(4), 6-3 win in one hour and 37 minutes.
Ofner is still in the doubles competition of the Open Menorca. Alongside Benjamin Hassan of Lebanon, the pair will compete in Saturday’s final against Italian wild card entries Andrea and Matteo Vavassori.
