LISBON/STARNBERG, September 27, 2021
Following the Braga Open, the clay-court swing on the ATP Challenger Tour in Portugal continues this week with the fifth edition of the €44,820 Del Monte Lisboa Belém Open being held at the Club International de Football in Lisbon.
Main draw action kicked off Monday led by No. 4 seed Andrej Martin. The World No. 122 from Slovakia battled past Roberto Cid Subervi from the Dominican Republic 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. Martin capitalized on seven of his 12 break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 53 minutes.
Up next for the 32-year-old Bratislava native will be Goncalo Oliveira, who emerged victorious from the all-Portuguese affair with teenager and fellow wild card entry Pedro Araujo, winning 7-6(4), 6-4. The encounter lasted two hours and five minutes.
“I was told that Pedro is playing well and it’s true. I congratulate him for the work he has done with his technical team,” said Oliveira at his post-match press conference, in which he explained that he decided to travel from Ecuador to Portugal because he is not in the best physical condition due to a flu.
In other action, Frenchman Constant Lestienne beat Elliot Benchetrit of Morocco 6-2, 6-2 and awaits the winner of the match between German qualifier Sebastian Fanselow and No. 5 seed Nikola Milojevic of Serbia, who finished runner-up to Thiago Monteiro in Braga on Sunday.
World No. 90 Monteiro will be the top seed in Lisbon. The 27-year-old Brazilian will start his title bid against Alexandre Muller from France.
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