JÁVEA, March 15, 2017

The top ranked player of the $15,000 BBVA Future Vila de Xàbia, Pedro Martínez Portero, opened his title bid with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Argentine lucky loser Dante Gennaro at the Ferrer Tennis Academy on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old from Valencia had to fight hard, won 67 per cent of his first service points and broke serve six times to prevail in three hours and 28 minutes. Martínez Portero, who lifted his maiden trophy on the ITF Pro Circuit almost exactly one year ago in Pula, will next take on Spanish wild card Sergi Perez Contri. It will be the pair’s first meeting. The World No. 297 eyes his fifth ITF Future crown.

Qualifier Juan Lizariturry defeated Gerard Granollers Pujol 7-6, 6-4. The 25-year-old Spaniard capitalized on three of his 11 break point chances to advance in two hours and five minutes. Next up for Lizariturry will be seventh Pedro Cachín from Argentina.

Lizariturry will be joined in the second round by fellow qualifiers Quim Sorni Chavarria, who will face third seed Marc Giner, Sergio Martos Gornes (will take on Javier Martí) and Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli, who is set to play the tournament’s number five Bernabe Zapata Miralles.

Second favourite Carlos Taberner will take on Raul Brancaccio from Italy, who cruised past Spanish qualifier Jorge Lopez Perez Fuster, winning 6-0 6-0 in only 49 minutes. Carlos Boluda-Purkiss and sixth seed Ivan Gakhov of Russia complete the second round line-up.