Sousa Scores First Win In Estoril

Portugal’s Joao Sousa secured his first win in four visits to the Millennium Estoril Open on Tuesday, defeating eighth seed Daniil Medvedev 7-6(1), 7-5.

The World No. 68 recovered from a break down in the first set, before reeling off six consecutive points from 1/1 in the tie-break to establish a one-set lead. Once more, the Guimaraes-born star encountered similar issues early in the second set. Sousa fought back from behind twice, before breaking for a 6-5 lead in the 11th game and comfortably serving out the win. The 29-year-old has now won 11 of his past 15 tour-level matches, which includes a run to the Grand Prix Hassan II semi-finals (l. to Andujar). Sousa will meet Portuguese wild card Pedro Sousa for a position in the quarter-finals.

Federico Delbonis also produced an upset in Estoril, beating fifth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 6-4 in 85 minutes. The 27-year-old won 65 per cent of second-serve return points (17/26) and broke the Spaniard on six occasions to set a meeting with Simone Bolelli. The Italian saw off the challenge of home qualifier Joao Domingues 6-3, 6-2.

Ecuador Open champion Roberto Carballes Baena took one hour and 37 minutes to get past American Bjorn Fratangelo 7-6(1), 6-3. The 25-year-old, recovered from 0-4 down in the opening set and saved two set points at 5-6 before dominating the tie-break and comfortably securing the second set. Carballes Baena will meet Cameron Norrie in the next round. The Brit defeated sixth seed Robin Haase 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Argentina’s Nicolas Kicker set up a second round encounter with defending champion and second seed Pablo Carreno Busta, after beating qualifier Tim Smyczek 6-2, 6-2. The World No. 93 saved all five break points he faced to advance after just 67 minutes.

Did You Know?
Defending champion Pablo Carreno Busta holds an 11-2 record at the Millennium Estoril Open. The Spaniard has improved his result at the event in each of the past three editions, having reached the semi-finals in 2015 (l. to Kyrgios) and the 2016 final (l. to Almagro), before lifting the trophy 12 months ago (d. Muller).

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2I87Llu