LYON/STARNBERG, May 18, 2022

Federico Coria headlined Wednesday’s second-round action at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon by knocking out World No. 17 Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, second seed of the ATP 250 clay-court tournament, 7-5, 6-3.

The 59th-ranked Argentine sent down five aces, won 74 per cent of his first-service points and broke his rival three times to celebrate the biggest win of his career after one hour and 28 minutes. Coria has reached the quarterfinals in Lyon for the first time but he advanced to the same stage at the ATP Tour events in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro in February, as well as in Marrakech in April.

Emotional scenes for @fedeecoria 🇦🇷

He gets his biggest career win by ranking, defeating World No. 17 Carreno Busta 7-5 6-3 at #OpenParc! pic.twitter.com/OZimcCTPop

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 18, 2022

Up next for the 30-year-old Rosario native will be Alex Molcan. The World No. 47 from Slovakia upset No. 5 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-2, 7-6(4). Molcan, who started a coaching partnership with countryman Marian Vajda prior to last week’s ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome, won 55 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 30 minutes.

Rune clinches 11th Tour win of the season

In the top half of the draw, Danish teen sensation Holger Rune, champion of the BMW Open in Munich earlier this month, defeated French veteran Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3. The 19-year-old saved all five break points he faced and converted three of his own five break-point opportunities to succeed after one hour and 47 minutes.

“It was a very difficult match,” said Rune. “I knew the conditions were good for him because he plays super aggressive and super close to the baseline, so I really had to try to focus on my game, to try to push him.

“It worked out very well, but of course he’s such a talented player, so it was very tough. But I’m very happy with the way I stayed focused.”