SEVILLA, September 3, 2017
Three Spaniards and one Frenchman qualified for the main draw of the €64,000 LV Copa Sevilla held at the local Tennis Club Real Betis on Sunday.
Carlos Gomez-Herrera upset the top seed Axel Michon of France, winning 6-2, 7-5. The 27-year-old from Marbella converted four of his five break point chances to advance after one hour and 32 minutes. Gomez-Herrera, currently ranked World No. 455, will appear in the main draw of an ATP Challenger event for the first time since reaching the quarterfinals in Como in 2015. He will play Pedro Martínez Portero in the opening round.
Marc Giner fought past Luca Margaroli from Switzerland 4-6, 6-3, 7-6. The 26-year-old Spaniard sent down six aces, winning 75 per cent of his first service points to prevail after two hours and 22 minutes. Giner will next take on Goncalo Oliveira of Portugal.
Mario Vilella Martinez qualified for the main draw, benefiting from the retirement of fellow Spaniard David Vega Hernandez. The 22-year-old Elche native was leading 6-1 when Vega Hernandez was forced to stop playing due to a wrist injury. Vilella Martinez will open against sixth favourite Adam Pavlasek from the Czech Republic.
Maxime Tabatruong of France eased past Carlos Boluda-Purkis 6-1, 6-1 to set a first round clash with the tournament’s number seven Adrian Menendez-Maceiras, who advanced to the second round of the US Open for the first time in his career.