SEGOVIA, August 5, 2017
Jaume Munar and Alex de Minaur will compete in an all-#NextGenATP-final at the $85,000 Open Castilla y León, held on hard courts at the Villa de El Espinar.
Munar, who appeared in his first ATP Challenger semi-final, battled past fellow Spaniard Gerald Granollers 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 on Saturday. The 20-year-old from Mallorca fired 13 aces, winning 77 per cent of his first service points to prevail after two hours and 22 minutes.
“It was a really tough match today. I served pretty well but did not get that many free points,” Munar told. “I had not handled difficult situations that well in the past as I did today. So I am very happy.”
De Minaur, who finished runner-up to Steve Darcis at the ATP Challenger in Eckental last November, upset the tournament’s number seven Matteo Berrettini of Italy 7-6, 7-5. The 18-year-old Australian saved four of the five break points he faced, converting two of his own to seal victory in one hour and 45 minutes.
What a week for 🇦🇺 teen @alexdeminaur at @Tenis_Espinar in Segovia, not dropping a set en route to his second #ATPChallenger final. pic.twitter.com/nmAug8MWlS
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 5. August 2017
“I still do not know how I won the first set. I was lucky in certain situations and managed to get to the tie-break,” de Minaur had to admit. “Matteo served incredibly well but I was aggressive when I had to. Overall, it was a decent performance, but there are still things to improve.”
Munar won the only previous meeting between the two on clay at the ITF Futures in Vic last year.
“We know each other. Our last match took place in much slower conditions. I hope it is going to be a nice match,” Munar is looking forward to his first title match on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Third seeds Adrian Menendez-Maceiras of Spain and Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky captured the doubles title with a 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 win over the all-Spanish-combination of Roberto Ortega-Olmedo and David Vega Hernandez. The final lasted one hour and 18 minutes.
