LISBON, May 17, 2019

Five seeded players advanced to the quarterfinals of the Lisboa Belém Open on Thursday led by World No. 86 Roberto Carballés Baena. The 26-year-old emerged victorious from the all-Spanish affair with Bernabé Zapata Miralles, winning 6-4, 6-2.

Carballés Baena converted five of his nine break point opportunities to prevail after one hour and 12 minutes. The No. 2 seed of the €46,600 ATP Challenger clay-court even in Portugal will next take on Frenchman Elliot Benchetrit, who knocked out the tournament’s No. 5 Alexei Popyrin of Australia 6-4, 6-2.

Guido Andreozzi benefited from the retirement of Spaniard Enrique López Pérez, who was forced to stop playing due to a low back injury. The No. 3 seed from Argentina led 4-1. Andreozzi will next face Pedro Martínez. The seventh favourite from Spain also had to play only five games, as his opponent Andrea Arnaboldi of Italy retired with abdominal problems.

Lorenzo Giustino is still flying the Italian flag, as the No. 11 seed upset the tournament’s No. 6 Bjorn Fratangelo from the United States. The 27-year-old Naples native won 52 per cent of the total points played to seal a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory in two hours and 11 minutes.

Sandro Ehrat (photo: Beatriz Ruivo)

Up next for Giustino will be Sandro Ehrat. The ITF-entry from Switzerland defeated Belgian veteran Steve Darcis 6-2, 6-4. The World No. 473 sent down four aces, winning 85 per cent of his first service points to advance after one hour and 16 minutes.

In the remaining quarterfinal, No. 10 seeded Argentine Facundo Bagnis will meet Mario Vilella Martínez of Spain on Friday. Bagnis beat Roberto Quiroz of Ecuador 6-3, 6-2. Vilella Martínez eased past Italian Roberto Marcora 6-2, 6-4.