IASI, September 17, 2020
Carlos Taberner has advanced to his first quarterfinal of the season. The 23-year-old Spaniard, who struggled with injuries in recent times, fought past qualifier Kacper Zuk of Poland 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the stage of the last eight at the Concord Iasi Open.
The No. 5 seed of the €88,520 ATP Challenger clay-court event in Romania converted five of his 14 break point chances and won 53 per cent of the total points played to seal victory in two hours and 34 minutes. Taberner, currently ranked World No. 189, will next take on compatriot Adrian Mendendez Maceiras. The 34-year-old from Marbella knocked the tournament’s No. 3 and two-time ATP Challenger Tour champion this season Arthur Rinderknech from France in the longest match on Thursday. Mendendez Maceiras withstood nine aces from his opponent and broke the Frenchman’s serve four times to prevail 6-2, 6-7(9), 7-6(6) after three hours and 20 minutes.
In other action, top seed Pablo Andujar defeated Malek Jaziri of Tunisia 6-2, 7-5. The World No. 51 from Spain capitalized on four of his eight break point opportunities to advance in one hour and 50 minutes. Up next for Andujar will be Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Rogridues Alves. The 22-year-old from Campinas fought past Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, winning 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3 in two hours and 16 minutes.
