Another day of surprises in Lanzarote. Following the elimination of Goñi-Allemandi (pair 3) in the first round, pairs 2 and 4 (Pereyra-De Pascual and Abud-Solano) joined them on the first day of the round of 16. One more day in which it continues to be demonstrated that the differences in the circuit are becoming increasingly tighter. The couples formed by López-Gutiérrez and Puppo-Maldonado were the executioners of two other seeded players. In addition to their qualification for the quarterfinals are those of Frugoni-Del Moral and (insert winner of the last match).
Frugoni-Del Moral overcome a bad start against López-González
Santiago Frugoni and Matías Del Moral came back against Rodri López and Miguel González in the first match of the round of 16 (7/5, 2/6 and 3/6).
The first set was quite even and both couples were looking to adapt to a court where there was less wind than other days. Each of the pairs struggled to get their serves ahead and this was visible in the fact that the first two games were decided favorably to the serve on the golden point. In fact, in the first eight games there had been zero out of seven in break balls (four on the Argentine side and three on the Spanish side). The key moment for López and González was in the eighth game, when they saved three break balls avoiding 5-3 against the serve. From the ninth game there were three consecutive breaks where López and González ended up winning by 7/5 in the first set.
In the second set Frugoni-Del Moral were against the ropes, having to save their serve in the golden point of the third game. That serve that they pulled off allowed the Argentines to gain confidence that would push them to get 3 out of 4 in break balls during the second set. Despite the fact that González-López got the counter break, the chemistry of the Spaniards was diluted in a second set that went to pair 5 by a clear 6/2.
In the third set, doubts flooded both couples in the final stretch of the match, although Frugoni-Del Moral asserted their role as favorites to sow doubts in their rivals. However, in the second game pair 23 saved two break balls against to stay in the match. Finally, a break by Frugoni-Del Moral in the eighth game served them to take the lead and take the set by 6/3. After their victory, pair 5 of the Lanzarote tournament will play the quarterfinals against Puppo-Maldonado.
Ninth time's the charm for López-Gutiérrez
Facu López and Cristian 'Sanyito' Gutiérrez gave the big surprise of the day by defeating N°2 Juani de Pascual and Rama Pereyra in a changing three-set match (6/4 5/7 7/5) that was defined on the ninth match point.
The match was very marked by the wind that lashed Marina Lanzarote and the breaks followed each other constantly on the same side of the court. Those who were able to take a step forward on the "bad" side were López and Gutiérrez, taking advantage of the doubts of their rivals with the aerial game.
The second started in the same way with Facu and Cristian faithfully following the conservative tactic, squeezing the doubts of the N°2. With this they placed themselves 5-3 and had two match balls to the rest. At that moment the reaction of De Pascual and Pereyra appeared, sending it to the third playing with greater confidence.
However, the beginning of the third set again showed all the grays of Rama and Juani who were 5-1 down with a very high number of unforced errors. With everything against them and dreaming of repeating what they achieved in the final of the Córdoba Open, they began to let go and managed to tie the score at 5.
With their serve they had the opportunity to get ahead in the third and stay at the gates of another incredible comeback but again Facu López and Cristian Gutiérrez broke again and ended up closing it on serve taking advantage of the doubts of the N°2 on the ninth match point.
Sensational result for López and Gutiérrez in their first tournament together and even more coming from remontar a 5-1 in the third set against Andornino and García. For their part, disappointing tournament for Pereyra and De Pascual who intended to achieve the N°1 individual for Rama in Lanzarote and get closer to the throne by pairs.
Exhibition of Maldonado-Puppo
After the surprise in the second match, N°4 Abud and Solano were already warned of the amount of surprises that were taking place in Lanzarote but they could do nothing against the imperial level of Maxi Maldonado and Nano Puppo (6/3 6/2).
In a very even start, Martín Abud and José Solano started 3-1 up with their three games won with the golden point. Despite the result, the sensations were very positive for the young Argentines who began to impose their electric rhythm and achieved a partial of 6-0 to close 6/3 the first and start winning the second.
The first four games of the second set were a carbon copy of the previous one but with different protagonists: 3-1 for Maldonado-Puppo with their three games to the golden point. However, they did not take their foot off the accelerator and continued to be better in the hot moments to end up eliminating the N°4 by 6-2 imposing themselves in the 5 golden points of the second set. Del Moral and Frugoni, their next rivals to try to repeat the semis they already achieved in the Córdoba Open.
Maier-Calleja eliminate the runners-up of France
Fran Maier and Felipe Calleja closed the day of surprises by beating the pair 7 of the tournament and finalists of the France Grand Master, Alfonso Sánchez and Joaquim Florensa (6/4 and 7/5).
From the first moment the Argentines dominated the match in the key moments, imposing themselves in a set where the golden points were the general tonic. In fact, the first two games of the match were resolved with two breaks, a symptom of what the match could be. The blows went back and forth in the match and both couples got their serve ahead in the golden ball in the fourth and fifth game. Subsequently Sánchez-Florensa taking advantage of the errors of Calleja getting to break in the sixth game (4-2). But the Argentines kept the match level with a counter break and tied the match after lifting three balls of re counter break (4-4). Finally, in the ninth game a great definition of Maier caused a favorable break that made the Argentines close the set in the tenth game (6/4).
In the second set Feli Calleja was growing in the match while Maier maintained his level. Pair 7 saved a delicate situation lifting three golden balls in their first service of the set while Maier-Calleja took with their serve the golden point of the fourth game. As the match went on, Florensa began to enter a loop of errors that his rivals took advantage of to break in the fifth game. However, Sánchez-Florensa took out their best game to balance the match in the eighth game (4-4). Finally, the Argentines broke in the eleventh game and took the set and the victory by 7/5.
After consecrating his feat, Maier reaches his first quarterfinals while Felipe Calleja does it for the second time. They will play a place in the semifinal against Santi Frugoni and Matías Del Moral.
The second day of the round of 16 of the Lanzarote Open will take place next Thursday at 12:00 hours (local time) on the central court of La Marina Lanzarote. This is the order of matches:
-Turn 1: Álvaro Sola-Noé Navarro vs Jesús Ruiz-Adrià Mercadal
-Turn 2: Maxi Sánchez-Fede Chiostri vs Aitor García-Andrés Britos
-Turn 3: Franco Dal Bianco-Maxi Arce vs Alejandro Urzola-Javi Pérez
-Turn 4: Joaquín De Astoreca-Ignacio Archieri vs Higor Ensslin-Fabricio Peirón.
