MARBELLA, April 2, 2021
Local favourite Jaume Munar headlined Friday’s quarterfinal action at the AnyTech365 Andalucia Open ATP Challenger 80 event, held at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano in Marbella, Spain. In front of a limited number of spectators on a sunny afternoon at Estadio Manolo Santana, the No. 3 seed of the clay-court tournament rallied from a set down to overcome sixth favourite Taro Daniel from Japan 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Munar struck six aces and won 65 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in exactly two hours of play.
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The World No. 99 will next take on fellow Spaniard Mario Vilella Martinez, who ended the fine run of form of last week’s Zadar Open ATP Challenger champion Nikola Milojevic of Serbia. The 25-year-old from Elche saved all 11 break points he faced and capitalized on two of his own five break-point opportunities to advance after one hour and 33 minutes.
Mager to face Giannessi
Two Italians will go head to head in the top half of the draw. No. 4 seed Gianluca Mager outlasted his compatriot Roberto Marcora 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 after one hour and 44 minutes to face Alessandro Giannessi in the stage of the final four.
The 30-year-old La Spezia native eased past Martin Klizan from Slovakia 6-0, 6-3. Giannessi won 65 per cen of the total points played to prevail after 57 minutes.
✅Definidas las semifinales en el AnyTech365 Andalucía Open Challenger 80.
Jaume Munar 🇪🇸 vs Mario Vilella Martinez 🇪🇸
Gianluca Mager 🇮🇹 vs Alessandro Giannessi 🇮🇹 #andaluciaopen #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/5ipYrD7UF1— AnyTech365 Andalucía Open (@AndaluciaOpen) April 2, 2021
Saturday’s semis will kick off at 12 noon starting with the two singles matches and followed by the doubles final. Top seeds Dominic Inglot from Great Britain and Matthew Reid of Australia will take on No. 2 seeds Romain Arneodo and Hugo Nys of Monaco for the title.
Zverev top seed at ATP 250 tournament
Meanwhile, World No. 7 Alexander Zverev from Germany has been awarded a wild card for the AnyTech365 Andalucia Open ATP 250 tournament, which begins on Sunday with the qualifying.
🇩🇪Alexander Zverev, actual número 7 del mundo, luchará por el título del AnyTech365 Andalucía Open.
↪️El ganador de 14 títulos ATP, será el primer cabeza de serie del torneo gracias a una Wild Card de la organización.#andaluciaopen | @AlexZverev pic.twitter.com/jjXw1cjnWs
— AnyTech365 Andalucía Open (@AndaluciaOpen) April 2, 2021
The 23-year-old, who started 2021 with a run to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and captured his 14th ATP Tour crown last month at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco will be the top seed at the Costa del Sol. World No. 8 Andrey Rublev from Russia withdrew from the tournament.
Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, Fabio Fognini of Italy and Norwegian young gun Casper Ruud will also be part of the line-up. Spanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz have already arrived at Marbella getting ready for the qualifying with his coach and former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero and his protegé #NextGenATP 🇪🇸 Carlos Alcaraz getting ready for their home campaign at the @AndaluciaOpen in Marbella. pic.twitter.com/Ca7levTd4f
— TennisTourTalk (@TennisTourTalk) April 2, 2021
