QUITO/STARNBERG, July 5, 2026
Argentina’s Hernan Casanova and Brazil’s Matheus Pucinelli De Almeida will contest the final of the Challenger de Quito Copa Banco Guayaquil, scheduled for Sunday, July 5 at 11:00 local time at Club Rancho San Francisco.
Both players advanced through demanding semifinal encounters, building momentum ahead of the title match, which will be broadcast live on Zapping TV.
Casanova secured his place in the final with a 7-6(5), 7-5 victory over Brazil’s Felipe Meligeni Alves. After a tight battle, the 32-year-old from Buenos Aires praised his serving performance and ability to take key opportunities.
Resultado Semifinal
Matheus Pucinelli De Almeida 🇧🇷 6-3 4-6 6-4 a Samuel Heredia 🇨🇴 #ChallengerdeQuito 🇪🇨 Copa @bancoguayaquil
Sede Club Rancho San Francisco pic.twitter.com/9FQAS4xoKx— challengeruio (@challengeruio) July 4, 2026
“I’m very happy to reach another final. I knew it would be a very tough match because he serves very well, so I focused on my own service games. I think I did that well today, and I knew at some point an opportunity would come. It did, and I was able to take it, which is the most important thing,” Casanova said.
This marks the Argentine’s third Challenger final, as he continues his bid for a maiden title at this level.
In the other semifinal, Matheus Pucinelli De Almeida overcame Colombia’s Samuel Heredia in a three-set battle, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
“I think my biggest strength today was physical and mental,” said Pucinelli De Almeida. “Even when I missed some chances, I stayed patient and kept looking for the good things. Physically I feel very strong, I can handle long matches and keep a high intensity until the end, which is what you need to win tournaments.”
The Brazilian, a former ATP Challenger champion in Coquimbo in 2023, also holds a slight head-to-head advantage over Casanova, leading their series 4-2, although the Argentine won their only final meeting at the M15 Sarajevo event.
