SAO LEOPOLDO/STARNBERG, November 19, 2022
The top two seeds of the Challenger Dove Men & Care Sao Leo Open have reached the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger Tour clay-court event hosted by the São Leopoldo Tênis Clube.
World No. 103 Facundo Bagnis stopped the impressive run of 16-year-old local wild card entry Joao Fonseca on Friday. The top seed from Argentina defeated the teenager in the stage of the last eight 6-3, 6-4. Bagnis capitalized on five of his nine break-point chances to prevail in one hour and 23 minutes.
The 32-year-old Rosario native, who is bidding for his third Challenger crown of the season following his triumphs in Pereira, Colombia and Ambato, Ecuador, will next take on No. 4 seed Felipe Meligeni Alves. The Brazilian edged out Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in one hour and 59 minutes.
Varillas to face Seyboth Wild
In the bottom half of the draw, second-seeded Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas battled past home favourite Daniel Dutra da Silva 7-6(3), 6-7(4), 7-6(2). The World No. 119 outpointed his rival 123-113 to secure victory in three hours and 34 minutes. Up next for Varillas will be Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, a 6-2, 7-5 winner over his compatriot Joao Lucas Reis da Silva. The encounter lasted one hour and 51 minutes.
Flying high in Sao Lepoldo ✈️
🇧🇷 @thiagoswild advances to his first #ATPChallenger semifinal of the year after beating Reis Da Silva 6-2, 7-5!
📸: Giovani Paim / Urge Creativa pic.twitter.com/9FWEAuXuKn
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 18, 2022
“I’m very happy to reach the first semi-final of the year,” said Seyboth Wild. “I’ve been working hard to feel good on the court, be happy on court again. I think I’m doing a good job. I started the tournament not so well, but I managed to turn a very important match around and mentally this is very good for me, it’s something I couldn’t do for a long time. I didn’t have that mental strength. I’m very happy with the level of my tennis I’ve been playing in the last few days and I will keep working to keep improving.”
Friday ResultsSingles – Quarterfinals [1] Facundo Bagnis (ARG) d [WC] João Fonseca (BRA) – 6/3 6/4[2] Juan Varillas (PER) d Daniel Dutra da Silva (BRA) – 7/6(3), 6/7(4) 7/6(2)[4] Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) d Román Burruchaga (ARG) – 6/1, 4/6 6/3[Alt] Thiago Seyboth Wild (BRA) d [Alt] João Reis Da Silva (BRA) – 6/2 7/5Doubles – Semi-finals[1] Guido Andreozzi (ARG) / Guillermo Duran (ARG) d Orlando Luz (BRA) / Marcelo Zormann (BRA) – 6/3 6/2Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) / João Reis Da Silva (BRA) d Mateus Alves (BRA) / Gustavo Heide (BRA) – walkover
