MAIA, November 22, 2019
Joao Domingues continued his good run of form at the Maia Open by reaching the semi-finals of the last ATP Challenger Tour event of the season. The No. 14 seed from Portugal eased past Italian qualifier Andrea Vavassori 6-2, 6-4 on Friday afternoon at the Complexo Municipal de Tenis da Maia.
Domingues, who is seeking his second trophy of the year following his triumph on home soil at the Braga Open, converted five of his 12 break point chances to secure victory in one hour and 19 minutes.
“Andrea is a dangerous player but I managed to keep control of the match,” Domingues said. “I came to this tournament without high expectations. I want to play the best I can and if it goes well and successful, that’ll be great. I’m in the process, getting back to my best again. I’m not thinking about results. I am thinking of trying to make the most of my game.”
The World No. 192 from Porto will next take on Frenchman Constant Lestienne. The 27-year-old battled past No. 13 seed Roberto Marcora 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 after two hours and 28 minutes.
Point of the week in Maia!
Roberto Marcora saves break point in style. Sky-hook ↪️ line clipper from the 🇮🇹. pic.twitter.com/MkVwmkQwVw
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 22, 2019
Top seed Andrej Martin also booked his spot in the stage of the final four with a 6-4, 6-4 win over unseeded Italian Riccardo Bonadio. The World No. 110 from Slovakia sent down seven aces and won 77 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 30 minutes.
Martin will face Jozef Kovalik, who eliminated No. 3 seed Paolo Lorenzi of Italy in the last match of the day by the score of 7-5, 7-5. The 27-year-old Slovakian outpointed the veteran 81-71 after two hours and six minutes.
