SEVILLA/STARNBERG, September 9, 2022
Two Spaniards lead the semi-finals line-up of the LIX Copa Sevilla, as Bernabe Zapata Miralles and Roberto Carballes Baena both won the their matches in the stage of the final eight on Thursday.
Carballes Baena, No. 3 seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 90 event played on yellow clay at the Real Club De Tenis Betis, showed an impressive performance by edging out sixth-seeded Federico Delbonis in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. The World 80 from Tenerife sent down seven aces and won 72 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 15 minutes.
Esto nos contaba @Robertocarba93 tras convertirse en semifinalista de la Copa Sevilla. El vigente subcampeón sigue avanzando en el camino hacia el Giraldillo pic.twitter.com/eqPy4TNvy7
— Copa Sevilla (@CopaSevillaCh) September 8, 2022
“I think it was my best match in Sevilla,” Carballes Baena said. “The conditions are different than usual, since we do not play any tournament on the albero (yellow clay) during the year. I felt comfortable, serving well. I have been aggressive from the baseline with only few errors.
“Delbonis was a very tough rival. I had never beaten him. We had played four times and I lost all of the matches. I tried to go out being a little more aggressive, that he did not take the initiative and it worked out well.”
Up next Carballes Baena will be another gaucho in person of Facundo Diaz Acosta. The 21-year-old Buenos Aires native stopped the run of 2018 Copa Sevilla champion and last week’s winner from the Open de Toulouse, Kimmer Coppejans of Belgium, winning 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and 28 minutes.
“I am very pleased to be in the semis after an intense match and a couple of tough matches here,” Diaz Acosta said.
How did @Facudiazacosta win this point? 🤯
The 🇦🇷 defeats Coppejans 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 in Sevilla to reach his third #ATPChallenger semifinal of the year!@CopaSevillaCh | @AATenis pic.twitter.com/3VfRaXzA69
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 8, 2022
In the bottom half of the draw, Zapata Miralles has reached the semi-finals in Andalusia without dropping a set. The No. 2 seed defeated beat Fabian Marozsan of Hungary. Zapata Miralles saved the only break point he faced and capitalized on three of his own seven break-point chances to prevail after 66 minutes.
The 25-year-old from Valencia will next play Timofey Skatov of Kazakhstan, who defeated Polish wild card entry Jerzy Janowicz 6-3, 6-2. The encounter lasted one hour and 56 minutes.
