STARNBERG, October 31, 2020
Following the tournaments in Barcelona and Alicante, the clay-court swing on the ATP Challenger Tour in Spain concludes with this week’s AnyTech365 Marbella Tennis Open held at the Puento Romano Tennis Club in Marbella. Three home favourites have advanced to the semi-finals of the €44,820 event. No. 2 seed Pedro Martinez fought past Blaz Rola from Slovenia 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3 in Friday’s quarterfinal.
The 23-year-old from Valencia outpointed his opponent 51-49 to secure victory in two hours and 51 minutes. Martinez will next take on compatriot Carlos Taberner, who also had to go the distance to overcome Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia. The World No. 158 had to dig deep and needed eight match points to prevail 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 after two hours and 47 minutes.
“It has been a very tough battle and I am extremely happy. All three matches here were very tough and they give me confidence for tomorrow’s match, in which I will have to give my best to have a chance,” said Taberner, who had beaten Ramkumar Ramanathan of India and Briton Jay Clarke en route to the stage of the final eight.
🎙Carlos Taberner: “Ha sido una batalla muy dura y estoy tremendamente contento. Los tres partidos han sido muy duros y me dan confianza para afrontar el de mañana en el que tendré que dar mi máximo para tener alguna opción.”#marbellachallenger pic.twitter.com/wsNWYXEh2n
— AnyTech365 Marbella Tennis Open (@MarbellaOpen) October 31, 2020
In other action, No. 6 seed Jaume Munar defeated Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic 6-1, 7-5. The 32-year-old from Mallorca, who captured his fifth ATP Challenger crown at the Lisboa Belem Open in Portugal two weeks ago, won 74 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 49 minutes. Munar will play Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the stage of the final four in Andalusia. The Aix-en-Provence resident ended the run of 19-year-old Spanish qualifier Carlos Gimeno Valero following a 6-4, 6-0 victory in one hour and 20 minutes.
Friday Results
Alexandre MULLER def. Carlos GIMENO VALERO 6-4 6-0
Pedro MARTINEZ def. Blaz ROLA 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3
Jaume MUNAR def. Vit KOPRIVA 6-1 7-5
Carlos TABERNER def. Daniel Elahi GALÁN 5-7 6-4 6-4
GRANOLLERS / MARTÍNEZ def. GAIO / PELLEGRINO 6-3 7-6(2)
MARTÍNEZ / ROMBOLI def. DIEZ / ROLA W.O
