VILLENA, April 2, 2018
Main draw action of the inaugural €43,000 Ferrero Challenger Open, held on clay at the Equelite Sport Academy in Villena, got underway on Monday. #NextGenATP stars Félix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and Spanish wild card entry Alejandro Davidovich Fokina met for the first time at senior’s level.
The 17-year-old from Montreal saved all 12 break points he faced, converting two of his own to advance to the second round with a 7-5, 7-5 win after two hours and eight minutes. Auger-Aliassime awaits the winner of the encounter between No. 3 seed Stefano Travaglia from Italy and Argentine Guido Andreozzi. Both players met in the title match of the first edition of the Casino Admiral Trophy in Marbella last Saturday. Travaglia emerged victorious in straight sets.
The budding rivalry continues…
In a rematch of their 2016 US Open junior clash, @felixtennis downs Alejandro Davidovich 75 75 in the first round in Alicante. pic.twitter.com/oCIEyyGy8J
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 2. April 2018
Australian teenager Alex de Minaur opened his Alicante campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Ricardo Ojeda Lara of Spain. The 19-year-old Spanish resident won 55 per cent of the total points played to prevail after one hour and 16 minutes. De Minaur will next face either local favourite Carlos Boluda-Purkiss or Zdenek Kolar from the Czech Republic.
Juan Carlos Ferrero and Guillermo Garcia-López (photo: Equelite Sport Academy)
Jaume Munar caused the upset of the day. The Spanish young gun knocked off No. 8 seed Kenny de Schepper of France 6-4, 6-3. Munar capitalized on three of his four break point opportunities to secure victory in one hour and 16 minutes.
Next up for the 20-year-old Barcelona resident will be Pablo Andújar, who edged past Goncalo Oliveira from Portugal 6-2, 6-2.
Earlier in the day, former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero was back on the court, playing an exhibition match with former Spanish Davis Cup player Guillermo Garcia-López. Alongside José Manuel Adrona, Ferrero is the tournament director of the latest stop on the ATP Challenger Tour.
