MARBELLA, March 29, 2019
Top seed Benoit Paire of France will join three Spanish players in the semi-finals of the €46,600 Casino Admiral Trophy in Marbella. The World No. 67 rallied past Alessandro Giannessi of Italy 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(7) on Saturday afternoon at the Puente Romano Tenis Club.
Paire fired 13 aces, winning 75 per cent of his first service points to prevail after two hours and 13 minutes.
“I am very pleased with my performance today,” Paire said during his on-court interview. “Yesterday I felt a bit sick but had a good rest and slept well. However, I didn’t feel that comfortable at the beginning of the match but managed to come back.”
Paire will next take on Pedro Martínez, who knocked out the tournament’s No. 3 Jiri Vesely from the Czech Republic. The No. 10 seed from Spain capitalized on four of his eight break point chances to seal a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory in two hours and five minutes.
Pablo Andújar beat Gianluca Mager of Italy 6-3, 6-2. The No. 2 seed from Cuenca outpointed his opponent 72-51 in one hour and 34 minutes to face fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the stage of the final four. The 19-year-old Malaga native fought past No. 6 seeded Brazilian Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to advance after one hour and 50 minutes.
“It was a tough match today and I am very happy that it ended up in my favour,” Davidovich Fokina said.
The teenager also hit the point of the match with an underam serve in the fifth game of the third set:
The @NickKyrgios effect.@alexdavidovich1 with an underarm serve as the clay season kicks off in Marbella @casinoadmiralt. pic.twitter.com/WJWnwYg3tL
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 29. März 2019
RESULTS – MARCH 29, 2019
Men’s
Singles – Quarterfinals
[1] B. Paire (FRA) d [12] A. Giannessi (ITA) 57 64 76(7)
[2] P. Andujar (ESP) d G. Mager (ITA) 63 62
[10] P. Martinez (ESP) d [3] J. Vesely (CZE) 64 36 61
[15] A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) d [6] T. Monteiro (BRA) 64 36 61
Men’s
Doubles – Semifinals
[1] K. Krawietz (GER) / A. Mies (GER) d [ITF] D. Perez Sanz (ESP) / O. Roca Batalla (ESP) 75 61
[4] S. Gille (BEL) / J. Vliegen (BEL) d F. Neis (BRA) / D. Vega Hernandez (ESP) 63 64
ORDER OF PLAY – SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2019
CENTRE COURT start 2:00 pm
[15] A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs [2] P. Andujar (ESP)
[1] B. Paire (FRA) vs [10] P. Martinez (ESP)
[1] K. Krawietz (GER) / A. Mies (GER) vs [4] S. Gille (BEL) / J. Vliegen (BEL)
