PULA, March 18, 2016

Two locals as well as two Spanish teenagers headlined Friday’s quarterfinals action at the $10,000 Istarska Rivijera ITF Futures in Pula, held at the Sports Center Verudela.

Nino Serdarusic

Wild card Antonio Sancic emerged victorious from the all-Croatian-affair with 19-year-old Nino Serdarusic, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Sancic, who is very successful in doubles and ranked at 85th position, is playing his first singles main draw since the ATP Challenger in Banja Luka in September 2015. The 27-year-old won 79 of the total 147 points to reach his first semi-finals on the ITF Pro Circuit since Umag in March last year. The match lasted one hour and 41 minutes.

Pedro Martínez Portero reached his second semi-final of the season

Sancic will face Pedro Martínez Portero in the stage of the final four. The 19-year-old Spaniard knocked out third seed Marco Bortolotti 6-2, 6-3. Martínez Portero won 57 of his first as well as second service points and converted six of the 14 break points to prevail in one hour and 32 minutes. It is the second semi-final for the teenager from Valencia after he lost to Gerard Granollers in Tarragona.

Martínez Portero will be joined by compatriot Jaume Munar. The tournament’s number six and last seeded player left in the draw, beat Montenegro’s best ranked player Ljubomir Celebic 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. Munar sent down two aces and capitalized on eight of his 14 break point opportunities to seal victory in two hours and 47 minutes.

Munar will face Porec champion Zdenek Kolar for a first tour meeting. The 19-year-old Czech cruised past Pietro Licciardi 6-3, 6-3. Kolar won 69% of his first service point, lost his serve only once and broke four times to advance after 76 minutes.