MORELIA/STARNBERG, March 27, 2026
The Morelia Open ATP Challenger 125 has reached its decisive stage, as Thursday’s quarterfinal action delivered a mix of physical endurance, dramatic moments, and the end of the local favorite’s run. The four semifinalists are now confirmed and will compete on Friday for a place in the final of the tournament in Michoacan, Mexico.
The standout performance of the day came from France’s Luka Pavlovic, who produced a remarkable victory over Canada’s Alexis Galarneau. In a thrilling contest decided by fine margins, Pavlovic prevailed 7–6(5), 4–6, 7–6(5) after two hours and 40 minutes. The match became the second longest in the history of the Morelia Open, with the Frenchman showcasing exceptional physical resilience and composure by winning both tie-breaks to secure his spot in the semifinals.
Breaking 🆕 ground 💥
🇫🇷 Luka Pavlovic beats Galarneau 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5) to book his first Challenger semi-final on hard court!#ATPChallenger | 🇲🇽 Morelia pic.twitter.com/CgI7pHT1sA
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 26, 2026
Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez saw his impressive run come to an end against the eighth seed Borna Gojo. The Croatian controlled the key moments of the match and relied heavily on his serve to claim a 7–6(3), 6–4 victory in one hour and 35 minutes, ending the hopes of the Mexican crowd favorite.
“I love Mexico” 🪇
Borna Gojo makes peace with the crowd after eliminating Pacheco Mendez 7-6(3), 6-4 to secure his FIFTH semi-final of the year!#ATPChallenger | 🇲🇽 Morelia pic.twitter.com/8DQTcJhWFI
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 27, 2026
Elsewhere, Argentina’s Juan Pablo Ficovich delivered a composed and consistent performance to eliminate third seed Tristan Schoolkate of Australia. Ficovich won 6–3, 7–5 in just over an hour and a half, maintaining control throughout the match. Colombia’s Nicolas Mejia advanced under unfortunate circumstances, as his opponent Chris Rodesch of Luxembourg was forced to retire due to injury with Mejia leading 4–0 in the opening set.
