Florianópolis (SC) – For the first time in his professional career, the Santa Catarina native won a challenger match. Coming from qualifying at the Engie Open, in Florianópolis, he overcame Argentine Francisco Comesana, 2nd seed in the event and 114th in the world, with splits of 6/4 and 6/3 in 1h32 of play this Tuesday.
A 23-year-old left-hander, Reyes is currently ranked 853rd in the ATP and has the best career ranking of 796th in the ATP, achieved in November. But the campaign in Florianópolis will already see him jump another hundred positions. He had never even played in a challenger main draw until this week. And even in future level competitions on the ITF circuit, he is still looking for his first title.
Reyes’ opponent in the round of 16 will be the Israeli Daniel Cukierman, also coming from the quali and 453rd in the ranking, who avoided a duel between two tennis players from Santa Catarina. That’s because Cukierman eliminated guest Pedro Boscardin, 21 years old and ranked 458th, with splits of 6/0 and 6/3 in 1h16 of play this Tuesday.
In the same quadrant of the bracket, Matheus Pucinelli from São Paulo also stood out at the beginning of this Tuesday’s round. The 23-year-old and 274th in the ranking overcame Canadian Liam Draxl, 259th placed and 8th seed in Floripa, with splits of 6/4 and 6/1 in 1h25. Pucinelli now faces the Italian Gianluca Mager, 275th in the world, in an unprecedented confrontation.
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Another Brazilian victory in the round came with Orlando Luz. The 26-year-old Gaucho, 335th in the ranking, beat Spaniard Carlos Sanchez, 370th, by 7/5 and 6/1. With the result, he guarantees a reunion with Ceará’s Thiago Monteiro, top seed in Floripa and 110th in the world. Last week, in São Leopoldo, Orlandinho won in three sets.
Saraiva and Zanellato say goodbye in three-set games
22-year-old São Paulo native Nicolas Zanellato, 461st in the rankings, lost in three sets to Argentine Camilo Carabelli, 106th in the world, with scores of 6/1, 6/7 (6-8) and 6/0. The 23-year-old Paulo Saraiva from Brasilia, 946th in the ranking and coming from qualifying, fell to the Frenchman Geoffrey Blancaneaux, 227th in the ranking and 6th seed, with splits of 4/6 7/6 (7-4) and 6/3.
Meligeni withdraws from the tournament and Daniel enters the bracket
Felipe Meligeni from São Paulo, who would be the 3rd seed in Floripa, withdrew from the competition due to illness. His place in the bracket went to another Brazilian, also from São Paulo Daniel Dutra da Silva, who entered as a lucky loser and faces Argentine Gonzalo Villanueva. There was also a change in the opponent of Eduardo Ribeiro from Rio Grande do Sul. With the withdrawal of Ecuadorian Alvaro Guillen Meza, 19-year-old Bolivian Juan Carlos Prado Angelo entered the bracket.
