GRAN CANARIA/STARNBERG, March 3, 2022

World No. 79 Roberto Carballes Baena will lead the quarterfinals line-up of the Gran Canaria Challenger. The top seed of the €45,730 clay-court tournament hosted by the El Cortijo Club de Campo defeated fellow Spaniard and wild card entry Pol Martin Tiffon 7-6(5), 6-1.

Carballes Baena broke his rival’s serve five times and won 58 per cent of the total points played to seal victory in one hour and 32 minutes.

Up next for Carballes Baena will be Swiss qualifier Johan Nikles, who rallied past Goncalo Oliveira of Portugal 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 after two hours and 44 minutes.

#CarballesBaena drop shot ✅@Robertocarba93 | #tennis | #GranCanaria pic.twitter.com/ygAQ42PhCj

— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) March 3, 2022

In other action, Salvatore Caruso defeated defending champion Carlos Gimeno Valero of Spain, who claimed his maiden Challenger title on the Canary Islands last year, 6-3, 6-4. The fourth-seeded Italian capitalized on six of his 12 break-point chances to advance after one hour and 34 minutes.

“I knew it would be a tough match, facing someone who plays very well on these courts,” Caruso said. “I started strong and I took the first set home without any major problems. I expected some reaction in the second set but I continued to give energy to the ball and I’m happy to be able to finish the match in two sets.”

Caruso will next play Duje Ajdukovic of Croatia, who knocked off Spaniard Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo 7-5, 6-1. The encounter lasted one hour and 40 minutes.

Thursday Results

Second Round – Singles 

Roberto Carballes Baena b. Pol Martin Tiffon 7-6(5) 6-1
Salvatore Caruso b. Carlos Gimeno Valero 6-3 6-4
Duje Ajdukovic b. Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo 7-5 6-1
Johan Nikles b. Gonçalo Oliveira 5-7 7-5 7-5

📌 Order of play | Friday 4 March #GranCanariaislaEuropeadelDeporte pic.twitter.com/dse1TqM5FG

— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) March 3, 2022