SEVILLA/STARNBERG, September 7, 2022
Following seven match wins in eight days and winning the title in Toulouse, Kimmer Coppejans continues his fine run of form this week at the LIX Copa Sevilla played on yellow clay at the Real Club De Tenis Betis.
The 28-year-old Belgian, who lifted his sixth career trophy on the ATP Challenger Tour in Southern France on Sunday, knocked out top seed and defending champion Pedro Martinez of Spain 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2 on Tuesday in Andalusia. Coppejans hit nine aces and won 62 per cent of his first-service points to seal victory in two hours and 36 minutes.
The World No. 292 will next take on 17-year-old Spanish qualifier Daniel Merida, who battled past his compatriot Carlos Lopez Montagud 6-7(5), 7-6(1), 6-3 in more than three hours, the longest match of the day.
In the bottom half of the draw, No. 2 seed Bernabe Zapata Miralles booked his spot in the second round of the €67,960 ATP Challenger Tour 90 event with a solid 6-2, 6-4 win over Nino Serdarusic from Croatia. The 79th-ranked Spaniard capitalized on four of his eight break-point opportunities to advance in one hour and 16 minutes.
Up next for Zapata Miralles will be Italian qualifier Giovanni Fonio of Italy, who eased past Czech youngster Dalibor Svrcina 6-3, 6-1 in 66 minutes.
In other action, No. 3 seed Roberto Carballes Baena and his fellow Spaniard and fourth favourite Carlos Taberner both won their opening round matches. Carballes Baena edged past Miljan Zekic of Serbia 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 and takes on Russian qualifier Bogdan Bobrov. Taberner beat qualifier Filip Jianu of Romania 6-2, 6-3 and will next play Polish wild card entry Jerzy Janowicz.
Consulta el orden de juego de este miércoles de octavos en la Copa Sevilla y los cuadros actualizados ¡Te esperamos a las 13.00! pic.twitter.com/BHBvvQ7rcm
— Copa Sevilla (@CopaSevillaCh) September 7, 2022
