BRAGA/STARNBERG, September 23, 2022
Four unseeded players have reached the semi-finals of the €45,730 Braga Open. Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida of Brazil continued his excellent run of form this week in Portugal with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Spanish qualifier Pablo Llamas Ruiz on Friday.
The 21-year-old Campinas native, who upset home favourite and top seed Nuno Borges in the second round, converted four of his seven break-point chances to advance in one hour and 39 minutes. The World No. 216, a three-time champion on the ITF World Tennis Tour, will take on Jelle Sels in his second Challenger semi-final of the season. The 27-year-old Dutchman edged out seventh-seeded Russian Alexander Shevchenko 7-6(1), 7-6(9) in two hours and 11 minutes.
Brazilian Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida into the 4th @ATPChallenger semi-final of his career (0-3) with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Pablo Llamas Ruiz here at #BragaOpen.
Still looking for his first final, which he will fight for against the winner of Sels vs. Shevchenko. pic.twitter.com/eYT3fFMuI7
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) September 23, 2022
In the bottom half of the draw, Timofey Skatov knocked off No. 2 seed Carlos Taberner of Spain 7-6(2), 6-0. The 242nd-ranked Kazakh broke his rival’s serve four times and won 58 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 58 minutes.
Timofey Skatov defeats Carlos Taberner 7-6(2), 6-0 to reach the @ATPChallenger #BragaOpen semi-finals.
The first set (almost 1h30) was crucial for both players, but especially Taberner — who was unable to keep his stamina levels up. pic.twitter.com/qxsyF1K4R0
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) September 23, 2022
Up next for Skatov will be Nicolas Moreno de Alboran. The 25-year-old US-American emerged victorious from the battle of the qualifiers, winning 7-6(6), 7-5 over Javier Cosano Barranco of Spain. The encounter lasted two hours and 27 minutes.
