ROSETO DEGLI ABRUZZI/STARNBERG, March 11, 2022

World No. 105 Carlos Taberner will lead the semi-final line-up of the inaugural Regione Abruzzo Aterno Gas & Power Cup I, hosted by the Tennis Club Roseto in Roseto Degli Abruzzi. The top seed of the €45,730 ATP Challenger clay-court tournament defeated fellow Spaniard and qualifier Carlos Gimeno Valero 6-2, 6-3 on Friday.

In sunny but still chilly conditions in Central Italy, Taberner capitalized on all of his seven break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 34 minutes. The 24-year-old from Valencia felt a bit of pressure today, being the player with the higher ranking but said that he managed it well in the decisive moments and played a solid match overall.

Up next for Taberner, who seeking his fifth Challenger career crown and first of the season, will be his compatriot Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo. The 22-year-old qualifier from Barcelona continued his fine run of form this week by knocking out Czech veteran Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 19 minutes.

In the bottom half of the draw, Flavio Cobolli delighted his home crowd, as he outlasted Timofey Skatov from Kazakhstan 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. The No. 7 seed from Italy sent down five aces and won 73 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in two hours and 19 minutes.

Cobolli will next take on Nuno Borges. The sixth favourite from Portugal won 53 per cent of the total points played to beat Italian alternate Andrea Arnaboldi 6-4, 7-6(2). The encounter lasted one hour and 23 minutes.

The top two seeded teams will go head to head in Saturday’s doubles final, as top favourites Hugo Nys of Monaco and Jan Zielinski from Poland are facing Roman Jebavy from the Czech Republic and Austrian Philipp Oswald.