SEGOVIA, July 28, 2016

Seven years after lifting the trophy at the Villa de El Espinar, Feliciano López will return to the courts in Segovia on Friday.

The 34-year-old Spaniard will have a practice session with the Open Castilla y León wild card Akira Santillan in order to prepare for the North American hard court swing. The 19-year-old advanced to his first quarterfinals on Challenger level, edging Marco Chiudinelli and Jorge Hernando Ruano en-route to the stage of the final eight.

López captured his fifth title on the ATP World Tour in Gstaad last Sunday, beating Robin Haase in the final. It was his first triumph on a clay court. The world number 18 will be joined by his coach Francisco “Pato” Clavet, who won the inaugural edition of the El Espinar tournament in 1986. Two years later, he lifted the trophy again.