EL PRAT DE LLOBREGAT, October 3, 2019

Two Spaniards will appear in the quarterfinals line-up of the Sanchez-Casal Head by NH Hotel Group. No. 2 seed Jaume Munar benefited from a walkover against German youngster Rudolf Molleker, who withdrew from Friday’s third-round match with illness.

Munar will next take on in-form Egypt Mohamed Safwat, who upset No. 9 seed Pedro Martinez from Spain 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. The World No. 229 Cairo resident, who made it into two semi-finals at ATP Challenger level this year in Bergamo and Florence, sent down nice aces and won 72 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after two hours and 37 minutes. Safwat and Munar will meet for the first time.

Meanwhile, top seed and defending champion Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain was forced to retire against Jozef Kovalik from Slovakia trailing 7-5, 5-7, 0-3 due to a neck injury. The 26-year-old from Bratislava will play Carlos Taberner. The 22-year-old from Valencia defeated No. 11 seed Federico Gaio of Italy 6-2, 7-6(5) in one hour and 47 minutes.

Later in the afternoon, Salvatore Caruso came back from a set down to beat Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo. The No. 4 seed from Italy capitalized on six of his 10 break point chances to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 54 minutes. Up next for Caruso will be seventh faourite Pedro Sousa from Portugal, who edged past Steven Diez from Canada 6-3, 7-5. The encounter lasted one hour and 42 minutes.

The remaining quarterfinal at the Sanchez-Casal Academy will be an all-Italian affair, as No. 10 seed Filippo Baldi will take on No. 14 seed Alessandro Giannessi. Matches will start on Friday at 11 am.

Carlos Taberner y Jaume Munar, las dos bazas españolas en cuartos de final. Orden de juego.
Desde las 11.00 por @Eurosport_ES con @cottius y la #laligaTV pic.twitter.com/ZpsbsfPWSm

— AcademiaSanchezCasal (@SanchezCasal) October 3, 2019