BUENOS AIRES/STARNBERG, June 24, 2022

World No. 168 Juan Pablo Ficovich leads the quarterfinals line-up at the Dove Men+Care Legión Sudamericana Challenger Buenos Aires hosted by the Tenis Club Argentino. The top seed of the $37,520 ATP Challenger Tour clay-court tournament eased past fellow Argentine Facundo Juarez 6-1, 6-1 in his second-round match on Thursday.

Ficovich, who is bidding for his second Challenger career crown this week, capitalized on six of his 12 break-point chances to advance in one hour and 11 minutes.

“Today’s match was very tight, I was able to win some key games that allowed me to loosen up more, and that was the difference,” said Ficovich.

“I decided to play the Challenger swing here instead of competing at Wimbledon. It was a difficult decision, because I like to play on grass, but now I’m trying to take advantage of the tournaments here in Argentina.”

The 25-year-old Buenos Aires native will next take on his four years younger compatriot Mariano Navone. The World No. 433 edged out No. 6 seed Nick Hardt from the Dominican Republic 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 in one hour and 58 minutes.

In other action, Gonzalo Villanueva beat Argentine qualifier and former Top 100 player Guido Andreozzi 7-6(3), 6-2. The fourth favourite from Argentina broke his rival’s serve four times and won 54 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 37 minutes.

Villanueva will next face No. 7 seed Malek Jaziri of Tunisia, who overcame Argentine qualifier Juan Ignacio Galarza 7-6(8), 7-6(6). The encounter lasted two hours and six minutes.

💪🏻🇦🇷 @juampificovich, @marianonavone1 y Gonzalo Villanueva también se metieron en cuartos de final del Dove Men+Care @LegionSudam Challenger Tenis Club Argentino. pic.twitter.com/tu14FVVG0l

— Argentina Tenis (@AATenis) June 23, 2022

Thursday Results 

Singles – Second Round
[1] J. Ficovich (ARG) d F. Juarez (ARG) 61 61
[4] G. Villanueva (ARG) d [Q] G. Andreozzi (ARG) 76(3) 62
M. Navone (ARG) d [6] N. Hardt (DOM) 61 46 60
[7] M. Jaziri (TUN) d [Q] J. Galarza (ARG) 76(8) 76(6)

Doubles – Semi-finals
[3] C. Huertas del Pino (PER) / A. Huertas Del Pino Cordova (PER) d I. Carou (URU) / G. Villanueva (ARG) walkover
Quarterfinals
I. Carou (URU) / G. Villanueva (ARG) d [1] G. Andreozzi (ARG) / G. Duran (ARG) walkover
[3] C. Huertas del Pino (PER) / A. Huertas Del Pino Cordova (PER) d A. Barrena (ARG) / M. Martinez (ARG) walkover