[ad_1]
Four days after being surpassed in an epic semifinal duel in Monte Carlo, Alex de Minaur returned to the Clay-Court victory march in Barcelona.
The Australian star moved gently towards the second round of the Barcelona Open with a defeat 6-4, 6-4 of Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina.
Speaking before the game, De Minaur had warned that he was “beginning to be dangerous on this surface.”
Faithful to his word, the number seven of the world dominated at all times. He seized the initiative with early breaks in both sets and consolidated without granting a single breakdown.
In contrast, Etcheverry, also defeated 6-1, 6-4 by De Minaur in the United Cup in Sydney in December, failed to convert two own rest points. LT ended in 82 minutes.
From Minaur last week he pointed out his intentions of the clay court to burn to the last four on Mount Carlo Masters, demolishing Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 6-2 in the last 16 before an amazing victory ‘Double Bagel’ 6-0, 6-0 over Grigor Dimitrov gave him a semifinal position.
It seems that he became the first Australian from John Newcombe in 1969 to reach the final of the prestigious Masters 1000 event, he only stopped in a battle of almost three hours that ended in a defeat of sword against Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, which fought to win 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
Perhaps the victory had a great cost for Musetti, who collapsed to a reverse of 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz in the last 24 hours later.
Back in Barcelona, from Minaur now faces Jacob Fearnley, the number two British who claimed his first victory in the ATP Tour raffle in Clay against Roberto Carballes Baena. The Scottish, who reached the main draw as a lucky loser, beat Spanish 6-1, 7-5.
Fearnley qualified outside the Top 600 a year ago, but won four ATP Challenger titles in 2024 to rise within Top 100.
Meanwhile, Christopher O’Connell of Australia was overcome 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3) by the recent Marrakerh champion, Luciano Darderi, in the BMW Open in Munich.
AAPA
[ad_2]
Source link
