BAKIO/STARNBERG, June 30, 2023
Following his triumph at last week’s Laukariz Open in Mungia, Portuguese teenager Henrique Rocha continues his fine run of form by reaching his second consecutive final on the ITF World Tennis Tour in the Basque Country. The 19-year-old from Porto will play for the title of the 38th edition of the Open Kiroleta being held in Bakio, a city situated about 12 kilometres north of Mungia, directly on the coast of Bizkaia.
Rocha pulled double duty Friday to reach the championship match of the ITF World Tennis Tour M25 hard-court event and now turns his attention to winning a third Pro Circuit of the season this weekend. The World No. 490 backed up a three-set win earlier in the day against Eliakim Coulibaly from the Ivory Coast with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Spanish qualifier Alejandro Garcia to book a spot in the final. Rocha capitalized on six of his 11 break-point opportunities to prevail after one hour and 19 minutes.
El portugués Henrique Rocha es el segundo finalista del “Open Kiroleta Bakio 2023”. Logró derrotar al español Alejandro García por 6-2 / 6-3. pic.twitter.com/rdmH8eTjwk
— ITF Kiroleta Bakio 25.000$ (@openkiroleta) June 30, 2023
Pouillan outlasts Sakellaridis
Rocha will take on No. 5 seed Lucas Pouillan of France for the “Txapela”, the traditional Basque beret on Saturday. The 28-year-old rallied past Greek youngster Stefanos Sakellaridis 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. Pouillan broke his rival’s serve five times to advance in two hours and 23 minutes.
El tenista francés Lucas Poullain se convierte en el primer finalistas del Open Kiroleta tras vencer en las semis al griego Stefanos Sakellaridis 1-6 / 6-2 / 6-2 pic.twitter.com/vHON8qEDKB
— ITF Kiroleta Bakio 25.000$ (@openkiroleta) June 30, 2023
The World No. 362 is bidding for sixth career title on the ITF World Tennis Tour, his third of the season after lifting the trophies in Faro, Portugal as well as on home soil in Carnac. Rocha and Pouillan will meet for the first time.
In other action, John Echeverria of Spain and Chinese Sun Fajin defeated Noah Lopez from Switzerland and Frenchman Robin Bertrand 6-3, 6-2 in 75 minutes to capture the doubles title.
