OEIRAS/STARNBERG, April 8, 2022
In-form Portuguese Gastao Elias recorded his 13th consecutive match win at the Oeiras Open on Friday. Following his triumphs at the Centro Desportivo Nacional Do Jamo in May last season as well as last Sunday, the 31-year-old from Lourinha has returned to the semi-finals with a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Zsombor Piros from Hungary.
Elias capitalized on six of his 11 break-point opportunities and won 53 per cent of the total points played to succeed after two hours and 20 minutes.
Portuguese @GastaoElias survives another big battle, defeating Zsombor Piros 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the #OeirasOpen semi-finals. 13 consecutive wins and counting here in Jamor. pic.twitter.com/4iIWBuMPhK
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) April 8, 2022
“I feel quite good, very happy,” said Elias. “At certain moments I thought it could end in the worst way. I was quite tired of yesterday’s meeting and today’s meeting, but the positive thing is that I kept myself mentally stable. I tried to find solutions and despite not playing my best match I ended up winning, which is the most important thing.”
The World No. World No. 173 will next take on second-seeded Czech Zdenek Kolar, who emerged victorious from a topsy-turvy encounter with No. 8 seed Dimitar Kuzmanov of Bulgaria, winning 6-1, 0-6, 7-6(6). Kolar won six points less than his rival but prevailed after two hours and 30 minutes.
In the top half of the draw, Jozef Kovalik of Slovakia defeated Lukas Rosol from the Czech Republic 7-6(6), 6-2. The No. 7 seed seed broke his opponent’s serve three times to secure victory in one hour and 34 minutes. Kovalik will next face Alessandro Giannessi. The fifth favourite of Italy beat No. 4 seed Christopher O’Connell from Australia 6-4, 6-4. The match lasted one hour and 34 minutes.
