EL PRAT DE LLOBREGAT, September 30, 2019
The second edition of the €46,600 Sanchez-Casal Head by NH Hotel Group kicked off on Monday with three wild card entries making their way into the second round of the clay-court tournament.
Playing his first ever ATP Challenger event Alejandro Moro Canas defeated Markus Eriksson 6-3, 6-2. The World No. 1,911 capitalized on four of his seven break point chances to prevail after one hour and 19 minutes.
“I was a bit nervous playing my first Challenger match but I played well and it’s an incredible feeling to reach the second round here,” Moro Canas said.
The 18-year-old Sanchez-Casal Academy player will next take on German young gun and No. 16 seed Rudolf Molleker.
#flashinterview #ascheadnh #challenger. #ascstories
Alejandro Moro, #sanchezcasal @SanchezCasal @ASCFlorida player.
Primer torneo #atpchallenger y logra el pase segunda ronda cuadro final. pic.twitter.com/qy0W5XlNRU— AcademiaSanchezCasal (@SanchezCasal) September 30, 2019
Jaume Pla Malfeito benefited from the retirement of Raul Brancaccio of Italy leading 6-0, 4-3. Bracaccio was forced to stop playing after 61 minuts due to a back injury. Barcelona native Pla Malfeito will next challenge Italian veteran and No. 6 seed Paolo Lorenzi.
Oriol Roca Batalla also advanced to the second round following a retirement of his opponent. Fellow Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles had to give up after losing the opening set 6-4 due to an abdominal injury. Up next for Roca Batalla will No. 12 seeded Canadian Steve Diez.
Defending champion Roberto Carballes Baena will open his title bid on Tuesday. The top seed of the €46,600 ATP Challenger 80 event will play fellow Spaniard Javier Barranco Cosano.
