GRAN CANARIA, March 5, 2021
World No. 483 Eduard Esteve Lobato of Spain has reached the stage of the final four of an ATP Challenger Tour event for the first time. The 26-year-old Spaniard fought past fellow qualifier Giulio Zeppieri of Italy 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in Friday’s quarterfinals of the Gran Canaria Challenger II held at the El Cortijo Club de Campo in Telde, Gran Canaria.
Esteve Lobato capitalized on three of his 10 break-point opportunities to secure victory in two hours and 33 minutes.
#EsteveLobato vence a #Zeppieri 6-4 5-7 6-4 y se prepara para la primera semifinal Challenger de su carrera 🇪🇸#GCC #meftennisevents #tennis #ATPChallenger @ATPChallenger | @turismogc | @GranCanariaTur | @gctourism | @GranCanariaCab | @RFETenis | @GranCanariaDep | @ESPNtenis pic.twitter.com/znmMJjPeBa
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) March 5, 2021
“I am tired but also happy. It was a very tough fight, as Giulio played very well,” Esteve Lobato said. “It was also a complicated match in windy conditions but I managed to cope with it well. I am pleased to reach my first Challenger semi-final after going through the qualifying here.”
The Catalan, who was born in Reus, captured two of his six titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour on the Canary Islands, winning back-to-back tournaments in Gran Canaria’s capital city Las Palmas two years ago.
“I feel comfortable here. The people are very nice. I hope to continue with good results here,” said Esteve Lobato, who will next take on No. 8 seed Kimmer Coppejans. The 27-year-old Belgian fought past Marco Trungelliti of Argentina 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-0 after two hours and 33 minutes.
#Coppejans es el primer semifinalista: derrotado #Trungelliti 7-6(4) 5-7 6-0 🇧🇪@KimmerCoppejans #GCC #meftennisevents #tennis #ATPChallenger @ATPChallenger | @turismogc | @GranCanariaTur | @gctourism | @GranCanariaCab | @RFETenis | @GranCanariaDep | @ESPNtenis pic.twitter.com/tljrFS6FcA
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) March 5, 2021
In the bottom half of the draw, Blaz Kavcic defeated Alex Molcan of Slovakia 6-4, 7-5. The 33-year-old Slovenian won 54 per cent of the total points played to advance in two hours and four minutes. Kavcic will next play either Spanish wild card entry Carlos Gimeno Valero or No. 6 seed Alessandro Giannessi of Italy. Their mach was suspended with Gimeno Valero leading 6-2, 3-4 due to bad weather.
