AMBATO/STARNBERG, September 23, 2021
The top half of the draw at the Ambato La Gran Ciudad was in second-round action on Wednesday, led by top seed Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru.
The top seed of the $52,080 clay-court tournament, being held at the Club Tungurahua in Ambato, Ecuador defeated Genaro Alberto Olivieri from Argentina 6-1, 6-3. After a hard-fought first-round victory over local favourite Roberto Quiroz, Varillas showed a solid performance, winning 58 per cent of the total points played to advance after one hour and 22 minutes.
“It was a very difficult match. Genaro is a little more solid from the baseline but does not have a strong serve. It was another type of game. I think that I was better than yesterday,” said Varillas. The World No. 121 will next take on Argentine qualifier Matias Zukas, who benefited from the retirement of Nerman Fatic from Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading 6-4, 2-1.
Juan Pablo Ficovich also booked his spot in the quarterfinals following a 6-2, 7-6(11) win over Colombian qualifier Alejandro Gomez. The sixth seed from Argentina sent down seven aces and won 83 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 24 minutes.
Ficovich will next face Johan Nikles from Switzerland, who beat Pedro Sakamoto of Brazil 6-3, 6-4. The 24-year-old from Geneva broke his opponent’s serve six times to succeed after one hour and 27 minutes.
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Wednesday Results
First Round:
Facundo Mena ARG def Diego Hidalgo ECU 6-4, 6-3
Alexis Gautier FRA def Gonzalo Lama CHI 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3
Lucas Catarina MON def Mirza Basic BIH 7-6(7), 6-4
Thiago Tirante ARG def Cristian Rodríguez COL 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(5)
Gerald Melzer AUT def Patrick Kypson USA 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-4
Second Round:
Juan Pablo Ficovich ARG def Alejandro Gómez COL 6-2, 7-6(11)
Matias Zukas ARG def Nerman Fatic BIH 6-4, 2-1 (retired)
Johan Nikles SUI def Pedro Sakamoto BRA 6-3, 6-4
Juan Pablo Varillas PER def Genaro Olivieri ARG 6-1, 6-3
