LISBON/STARNBERG, September 28, 2021
Only two days after lifting the Braga Open trophy, Thiago Monteiro continued his fine run of form on the ATP Challenger Tour by reaching the second round of the Del Monte Lisboa Belém Open being held at the Club International de Football in Lisbon, Portugal.
The top seed of the €44,820 clay-court tournament edged past Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday afternoon. Monteiro saved four of the five break points he faced and capitalized on three of his own four break-point chances to seal victory in one hour and 39 minutes. The World No. 90 from Brazil will next take on Italy’s Andrea Pellegrino.
Estreia relativamente tranquila para @dThiagoMonteiro no #LisboaBelemOpen dois dias depois de vencer o #BragaOpen. 6-4 e 6-4 contra o sempre perigoso (e em forma) Alexandre Muller. pic.twitter.com/J12fZXpaGp
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) September 28, 2021
In the bottom half of the draw, World No. 484 Daniel Michalski upset No. 2 seed Taro Daniel of Japan 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-2. The Polish qualifier won 52 per cent of the total points played to prevail after three hours and 12 minutes.
Michalski will next challenge Joao Domingues, who beat fellow Portuguese and wild card entry Tiago Cacao 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 28 minutes.
What a battle: @The_Michalski defeats second seed Taro Daniel 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-2 in 3h15 to reach the second round at #LisboaBelemOpen. Great fight from @tarodaniel93 until the very end but Michalski ended up having more stamina in the big moments. pic.twitter.com/eTQCv9MLSd
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) September 28, 2021
No. 3 seed Hugo Gaston eased past Francesco Forti of Italy 6-3, 6-1. The 20-year-old Frenchman converted five of his 11 break-point opportunities to advance after one hour and 22 minutes. Gaston will next meet Dutch veteran Robin Haase, who overcame Italian Filippo Baldi 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The encounter lasted two hours and one minute.
