BRAGA/STARNBERG, September 22, 2022
Pablo Llamas Ruiz continued his fine run of form this week in Portugal by reaching the quarterfinal of an ATP Challenger Tour event for the first time. The 19-year-old Spanish qualifier edged past home favourite and 2019 champion Joao Domingues 7-6(2), 6-0 in Thursday’s second round of the €45,730 Braga Open.
Llamas Ruiz, a two-time winner on the ITF World Tennis Tour, capitalized on all of his six break-point chances to secure victory in one hour and 23 minutes.
Qualifier Pablo Llamas Ruiz upsets 2019 champion João Domingues 7-6(2), 6-0 to record his 4th win in a row and reach the #BragaOpen quarter-finals.
Domingues was up a break three times and served for the first set not once but twice. pic.twitter.com/FYFHLYpnVh
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) September 22, 2022
The World No. 511 from Jerez de la Frontera will next take on 216th-ranked Matheu Pucinelli de Almeida, who caused the upset of the day.
The 21-year-old Brazilian knocked out World No. 94 and the clay-court tournament’s top seed Nuno Borges of Portugal 6-2, 6-4. Pucinelli de Almeida sent down two aces and won 75 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 18 minutes.
It was one of those days for top seed Nuno Borges, who falls 6-2, 6-4 to Matheus Pucinelli in #BragaOpen R2.
What’s next for him? Most likely Sofia ATP 250. pic.twitter.com/1txhP2omli
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) September 22, 2022
In other action, seventh-seeded Russian Alexander Shevchenko defeated Nino Serdarusic of Croatia 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 50 minutes and will face in-form Dutchman Jelle Sels in the stage of the last eight.
