SAN BENEDETTO, July 18, 2015

Three locals and one Spaniard appeared in the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger San Benedetto Tennis Cup on Saturday.

Wild card Alessandro Giannessi defeated compatriot Salvatore Caruso in an all-Italian-affair, winning 6-4, 6-2. The 25-year-old from La Spezia won 78% of his second service points and capitalized on five of his 14 break points to reach his first ATP Challenger final since Napoli in 2013 after one hour and 29 minutes.

“I am really happy with this result,” Giannessi told. “It is well deserved for the hard work in the last few months.”

Giannessi will take on the tournament’s second seed Albert Ramos in Sunday’s final. The 27-year-old Spaniard achieved a comfortable victory over Marco Cecchinato, winning 6-1, 6-3. Ramos saved all three break points he faced and converted four of his own to seal victory in 66 minutes.

“It will be a final against a friend,” Ramos stated. “Alessandro is in good shape and it will be a very difficult match.”

Dino Marcan and Antonio Sancic claimed their second Challenger team title, winning the final against the Mexican combination of Cesar Ramirez and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela 6-3, 6-7, 12-10 in one hour and 58 minutes.