AMBATO/STARNBERG, October 21, 2022

Last year’s finalists, Thiago Tirante of Argentina and Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru, as well as Argentinean Facundo Mena and Colombian Nicolas Mejia, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Ambato La Gran Ciudad, an ATP Challenger Tour 80 tournament that runs until Sunday in Ecuador.

World No. 258 Tirante defeated New Zealand’s qualifier Kiranpal Pannu 6-2, 6-2 in 66 minutes on Thursday, confirming how well he likes the Centre Court of the Club Tungurahua.

#ATPChallengerAmbato
Match point @TiranteThiago sobre Kiranpal Pannu.
El argentino firme en pos del bicampeonato @ATPChallenger @nicolapentti pic.twitter.com/cGtowxLQ5t

— KCtenis (@KCtenis) October 21, 2022

“I feel very comfortable, I know where the spaces are, it’s a much bigger court than the other two, but I feel very comfortable, it gives me a lot of confidence. I’m taking it step by step and to be able to play more matches like this,” said the defending champion.

Tirante will next take on his compatriot and No. 4 seed Facundo Mena, who beat local wild card entry Andres Andrade 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 14 minutes.

Breaking the Argentinean dominance is Peruvian top seed Varillas, who beat Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in two tie breaks, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) after one hour and 40 minutes.

World No. 123, Varillas knows that these ATP points here are vital in his aspirations to finish the season in the Top 100 and thus secure his entry into the main draw of the Australian Open 2023.

“Yes, I think that’s a big goal I have for this year, to try to finish in the Top 100 and start the year in the best way, playing in the main draw in Australia,” said Varillas.

Last year’s runner-up will play Colombian Nicolas Mejia in the quarterfinals, who defeated Jorge Panta of Peru 6-3, 6-4. The encounter lasted one hour and 34 minutes.

Thursday Results

Singles – Second Round

Juan Pablo Varillas PER def. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard FRA 7-6(6), 7-6(4)

Facundo Mena ARG def. Andrés Andrade ECU 6-3, 6-4

Thiago Tirante ARG def. Kiranpal Pannu NZL 6-2, 6-2

Nicolás Mejía COL def. Jorge Panta PER  6-3, 6-4

Doubles – Quarterfinals

N. Balaji IND/J. Nedunchezhiyan IND def. A. Andrade ECU/T. McCormick USA WO

B. Arias BOL/F. Zeballos BOL def. C. Huertas del Pino PER/A. Huertas Del Pino Cordova PER 7-6(5), 6-4

S. Rodriguez Taverna ARG/T. Tirante ARG def. C. Markes USA/K. Pannu NZL 7-6(3), 6-2