TRIESTE, August 26, 2020
Carlos Alcaraz Garfia headlined Wednesday’s second-round action at the Citta di Trieste. In front of about 150 spectators and under bright skies on Campo Centrale „Claudio Giorgi“ at the Tennis Club Triestino, the 17-year-old Spaniard showed a decent performance to beat local favourite Matteo Viola 6-4, 6-2.
Alcaraz Garfia came back from a break down in the opening set with solid shots from the baseline, but also some impressive volleys, which clothed the face of his coach, 2003 Roland Garros champion and former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, in smile. The teenager, who battled through the qualifying to reach the main draw in the capital city of the region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, capitalized on four of his 15 break point opportunities to secure victory in one hour and 28 minutes.
#NextGenATP 🇪🇸 @alcarazcarlos03 advances to his second @ATPChallenger QF following a straight-set win over Matteo Viola 🇮🇹 in Trieste.
Next up: Tomas Martin Etcheverry 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/MKxbwIc2nf
— TennisTourTalk (@TennisTourTalk) August 26, 2020
“It was a tough match against a good opponent but I am pleased with my performance today,” Alcaraz Garfia told Tennis TourTalk afterwards. Following last week’s ATP Challenger in Todi, the Murcia native has played his second tournament since the re-start of the tour. “I am happy to be back on court playing international events and satisfied to reach the next round.”
Alcaraz Garfia, who is currently ranked on a career-high World No. 310, added that he spent a lot of time in the gym during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain to work on his physical ability. After reaching the stage of the final eight at the Copa Sevilla in September last year, the Next-Gen-star has advanced to his second quarterfinal at Challenger level.
So what can we still expect from his this week? “I just keep going and try to enjoy every match,” he responded. “I can still learn a lot from every opponent and every match. I am looking forward to the next on.”
Alcaraz Garfia will face Argentine qualifier Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who defeated Mats Moraing of Germany 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 28 minutes.
Musetti books quarterfinal spot
Earlier in the day, Lorenzo Musetti delighted his home crowd in Trieste by knocking out Alexei Popyrin of Australia, the top seed of the € 88,520 clay-court event. The 18-year-old Italian sent down seven aces and won 84 per cent of his first service points to prevail 7-5, 6-3 after one hour and 27 minutes.
Up next for the teenager from Carrara will be Juan Pablo Ficovich of Argentina, who eased past Italian wild card entry Matteo Gigante 6-2, 6-4. The encounter lasted one hour and 33 minutes.
