GRAN CANARIA, March 3, 2021
Spanish teenager Carlos Gimeno Valero headlined Wednesday’s second-round action in the bottom half of the draw at the Gran Canaria Challenger II by knocking out No. 2 seeded Italian Federico Gaio.
The 19-year-old wild card entry from Valencia withstood seven aces breaking Gaio’s serve six times to secure a 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 victory in one hour and 49 minutes.
🎾 #ATPChallenger Carlos Gimeno avanza a CF en Gran Canaria-2 tras eliminar al segundo favorito del cuadro
🚹CF
Gimeno🇪🇸 vs Giannessi🇮🇹🚹2R
Gimeno🇪🇸 a Gaio🇮🇹 60 36 63
Giannessi🇮🇹 a Sánchez-I.🇪🇸 76 75
Alcaraz🇪🇸 vs Trungelliti🇦🇷
Esteve🇪🇸 vs Milojevic🇷🇸📺 @ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/Dw3qW1DBVS
— Tenis España (@RFETenis) March 3, 2021
World No. 400 Gimeno Valero will next take on No. 6 seed Alessandro Giannessi, who fought past Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo of Spain 7-6(9), 7-5 after two hours and 18 minutes.
Earlier in the day on Centre Court at the El Cortijo Club de Campo, Blaz Kavcic defeated Riccardo Bonadio from Italy 6-2, 6-4. The 33-year-old Slovenian won 58 per cent of the total points played to advance to the quarterfinals after one hour and 40 minutes.
“It was a tough match. It looked pretty easy, as I was 6-2, 3-1 up but suddenly the momentum changed. He started to play better and hit some good shots but in the end I am happy to win,” Kavcic said.
“Unfortunately I have suffered many injuries throughout my career. There are more and more experienced players on the tour, so I think I will have a chance of reaping success at ATP level. I work every day to keep improving and I have no intention of giving up.”
Up next for the 17-time ATP Challenger champion will be Alex Molcan. The World No. 289 from Slovakia ended the successful run of last week’s champion Enzo Couacaud of France. Molcan won 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 21 minutes.
