JÁVEA, March 17, 2017

Pedro Cachín and Bernabé Zapata Miralles will compete in Saturday’s singles final of the inaugural $15,000 BBVA Future Vila de Xàbia held at the Ferrer Tennis Academy.

Bernabe Zapata Miralles

On a busy Friday at the Costa Blanca, the quarterfinal as well as the semi-final matches were played. The fifth favourite from Spain had eased past third seed Marc Giner 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 11 minutes before he defeated Javier Martí in another all-Spanish-encounter 7-6, 6-3.

The seventh favourite from Argentina had beaten the tournament’s number four Mario Vilella Martinez of Spain 7-5, 6-2 before he fought past top seed Pedro Martínez Portero in three sets. Earlier the day, the 19-year-old Spaniard had a hard battle against Carlos Boluda-Purkiss, rallying 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in three hours and 41 minutes.

Martínez Portero also won the opening set against Cachín but the Argentine fought back in the second to take the match the distance. The Spanish teenager obviously ran out of steam and lost the final set in only 23 minutes. Cachín eventually celebrated a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory after two hours and three minutes to advance to his second title match of the season, after he had finished runner-up to Ricardo Ojeda Lara in Manacor in January.

“It was very tough today. Playing two matches in one day is very complicated, not only from a physical point of view but also mentally,” a relieved Cachín told Tennis TourTalk afterwards. “I knew that I was fresher than him but that does not make it easier. I am happy that I made it to the final.”

Cachín and Zapata Miralles will meet for the second time. The World No. 487 from Córdoba won the previous encounter at the ITF Pro Circuit event in Gandia in 2014.

“I expect another tough match tomorrow but we both gained confidence during a long week with a lot of matches played. I know him and he is a very good player. So it is going to be difficult again,” Cachín said.

Martínez Portero And Granollers Pujol Capture Doubles Title

Pedro Martínez Portero and Gerard Granollers Pujol

Only about one hour after his loss in the singles semis, Martínez Portero was back in action for his third match of day, competing the doubles final. The youngster teamed up with Gerard Granollers-Pujol to beat Ivan Gakhov from Russia and Spaniard Sergio Martos Gornes 6-2, 6-2. The encounter ended after 56 minutes at 8:45 pm local time.

The singles final will start on 11 am at the Tennis Club Jávea.