VILLENA, April 4, 2018

Four seeded players advanced to the quarterfinals of the €43,000 Ferrero Challenger Open held at the Equelite Sport Academy in Villena. The tournament’s No. 1 Roberto Carballés Baena defeated Andrea Arnaboldi from Italy 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

The 25-year-old Tenerife native won 58 per cent of the total points played to seal victory in one hour and 17 minutes. Carballés Baena will next take on fellow Spaniard Mario Vilella Martinez, who battled through the qualifying, and benefited from the retirement of Italian Alessandro Giannessi, leading 5-2.

Alex de Minaur of Australia emerged victorious from the battle with local favourite Carlos Boluda-Purkiss, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. The No. 4 seeded Sydney native, who resides in Alicante, broke his opponent’s serve six times. Boluda-Purkiss had to cope with cramps in the third set and de Minaur finished the encounter after two hours and 16 minutes. The teenager will next face No. 5 seed Marcel Granollers of Spain, who edged past compatriot Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 6-3.

Second favourite Marco Cecchinato beat fellow Italian Lorenzo Giustino 6-3, 7-5. The World No. 99 from Sicily converted four of his nine break point chances to prevail after one hour and 37 minutes. Cecchinato will next play qualifier Gian Marco Moroni.