The favorites started with hard-fought victories in the fourth tournament of the year. In the morning session of the first day of the main draw, the incredible comeback of Facu López and Cristian 'Sanyito' Gutiérrez against Andornino-García was the highlight of a day where Maier-Calleja, Del Moral-Frugoni, and Sánchez-Florensa also qualified.
Solid Reencounter of Del Moral-Frugoni
The No. 5 ranked pair secured the first ticket of the day in Lanzarote after winning 7/6 and 6/4 against Morales-Collantes.
A match that began with the Spanish pair having clearer ideas (achieving a break in the third game) on the 20x10 court. Del Moral-Frugoni would not let up and, through hard work and courage, managed to go up 5-3 in a very competitive set that had to be decided in a Tie-Break, which fell in favor of the Argentinians.
In the second set, the version of Del Moral-Frugoni shone, securing a vital break in the fourth game. They maintained this lead to secure their ticket to the round of sixteen after a final score of 6/4. They will face the winner of Perry-Andrada versus López-González in the next round.
Sánchez-Florensa Win a Real Thriller
The second match on the central court of Marina Lanzarote saw Sánchez-Florensa win 6/4, 4/6, and 6/7.
The Spanish pair faced Hernando-Oliver, who started the match with a more aggressive offensive approach. A very even first set saw Hernando-Oliver's break in the second game being enough to tip the balance.
Sánchez-Florensa brought out that forceful and solid version that took them to the final of the Grand Master of France and managed to equalize in a second set that ended 6/4 in their favor.
With everything to be decided in the last set, the parity was more even than ever. In fact, the succession of breaks by both pairs meant that the match had to be decided in a Tie Break that ended 7/5, giving the final victory to Sánchez-Florensa, who will face Maier-Calleja in the round of sixteen.
Commendable Match from Maier-Calleja
In the first match of the day on the secondary court, the young Fran Maier and Feli Calleja defeated Yain Melgratti and Mauri Rivero, who have not been finding good sensations, coming back from 4/6, 7/6, 6/2.
After a very even start to the match where each pair took a set, a great improvement was seen in the decisive moment from Maier and Calleja. For their part, Melgratti-Rivero have not yet known victory as a pair after two tournaments together. Sánchez and Florensa, Maier-Calleja's next rivals.
Victory After Overcoming a 5-1 Deficit in the Third
Facu López and Cristian 'Sanyito' Gutiérrez had a dramatic debut as a pair, winning with an epic comeback against Martín Andornino and Toti García (7/6, 4/6, 7/6).
In a tremendously even match, it was not until the start of the third set that one pair seemed to take the definitive step forward. With García-Andornino leading 5-1 (who already showed very good performance in France), López-Gutiérrez seemed out of Lanzarote. But after saving numerous match points, they forced the tie break where they imposed the tremendous motivation that gave them an almost unthinkable streak minutes before.
Their next rivals will come from the Martínez-Yob vs Pereyra-De Pascual match this Monday afternoon.