GUIA DE ISORA/STARNBERG, February 21, 2024
Day of battles and emotions at the Tenerife Challenger 2. In the second of three ATP Challenger Tour hard-court tournaments organized by MEF Tennis Events at the Abama Tennis Academy, Wednesday morning’s main protagonist was Santiago Rodríguez Taverna, who fought past local wild card entry Martin Landaluce 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(11) after two hours and fifty minutes.
The seventh-seeded Argentine won 70 per cent of his first-service points and broke his rival three times to set a second-round meeting with Francesco Maestrelli of Italy.
Scintillating tennis 👌
Martin Landaluce & Santiago Rodriguez Taverna in Tenerife 🤝#ATPChallenger | @meftennisevents pic.twitter.com/DAkEizDHYF
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 21, 2024
“I think we both played at a very high level. The match had gone either way. We both had match points. You just have to keep up your level. He is a great player with great shots, so you have to play your best to beat him,” Rodriguez Taverna said afterwards.
“The court is a bit slow. That’s why are many matches last longer. I like being here, that’s why I decided to come back. I am enjoying it.”
Marie masters Piros
In other first-round action, Jules Marie of France has caused the upset of the week so far by knocking out top seed Zsombor Piros of Hungary 7-6(2), 6-1. The World No. 221 struck four aces and converted five of his seven break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 24 minutes.
Up next for Marie will be Dennis Novak of Austria.
WEDNESDAY RESULTS
First Round – Singles
Jules Marie def. Zsombor Piros (1) 7-6(2) 6-1
Santiago Rodriguez Taverna def. Martin Landaluce 7-5 2-6 7-6(11)
Martin Damm def. Daniel Michalski (LL) 7-5 7-6(3)
Second Round – Singles
Jozef Kovalik def. Dimitar Kuzmanov 4-6 7-6(4) 7-5
Stefano Travaglia def. Raul Brancaccio 6-1 6-4
Matteo Gigante (5) def. Adrian Andreev (Q) 6-4 6-3
Salvatore Caruso (LL) def. Jesper de Jong (2) 6-4 1-6 6-3
📆 Order of Play | Thursday 22 February
👉🏼 https://t.co/B7XXsdj4Om #tennis #TenerifeChallenger #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/T8w2fx8y1W
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) February 21, 2024
