Antofagasta (Chile) – Four young Brazilians are in the semifinals of the ITF J30 in Antofagasta, on clay courts in Chile. Pedro Almeida Andres and Rafael Padilha continue in the men’s tournament, while Luiza Rodrigues and Isadora Sigrist are in the women’s competition.
18-year-old Rafael Padilha from Rio Grande do Sul will compete in his first ITF semifinal. He beat Martin Rivera 6/4 and 6/1, having also beaten Arturo Zuniga and Cristobal Maldonado in the early stages. His next opponent is fellow Chilean Felipe Jimenez. Tennis player from the Rede Tênis Brasil (RTB) social project, Padilha had his first contact with tennis at the age of nine, in Porto Alegre, and was recently chosen to give the Miami Open opening serve.
Also this Wednesday, Pedro Almeida Andres won the national duel against Matias Fernandez by double 6/2. He challenges local 1 seed Thomas Piccioli. In the women’s group, Luiza Rodrigues beat Chilean Milagros Falabella by 4/6, 6/2 and 6/4. She faces Peruvian Daniela Gonzales, who scored 6/0 and 6/1 against Isabela Gontijo. Isadora Sigrist beat local guest Paula Garcs 6/2, 4/6 and 6/2 and faces Chilean Camila Yaez.
Six Brazilians play the quarterfinals in Lima
Six Brazilian youth are in the quarterfinals of the ITF J100 in Lima, with the right to two national clashes in the men’s group, the 1st seed from Paraná João Lago faces Thomas Miranda, while Davi Carlos faces Mateus Napoli. This Wednesday, Lago beat Bolivian Santiago Lora 6/2, 2/6 and 7/6 (7-2), while Miranda beat Vitor Cunha 6/2 and 7/6 (9-7). Carlos scored 6/3 and 7/6 (7-5) against Ecuadorian Angel Veliz, while Napoli beat Argentine Felipe Dreer 7/6 (9-7) and 6/3.
In addition to them, Victor Winheski from Minas Gerais scored a double 6/0 against the North American Austin Taco and challenges the Ecuadorian Francisco Castro, 3rd seed and tormentor of Gabriel Godoy by 6/2 and 6/4. In the women’s section, Rio’s Gabriela Felix reached the quarterfinals by beating Paraguayan Victoria Ocampos by double 6/0 and facing North American Sabrina Lin.
Brazilians say goodbye in Austria and the USA
In the ITF J100 of Plantation, on clay courts in the United States, Lucca Acioly had the best result for Brazilian tennis. After victories over North American Benjamin Sparks 7/6 (9-7) and 6/2 and against Russian Maksim Nekrasov 6/3 and 6/2, he was overtaken by local #1 seed Benjamin Willwerth 7/ 6 (10-8) and 6/0. Ettore Danesi stopped in the second round. Diogo Tibirica, Pedro Dietrich, Juan Pedro Etchecoin, Rafael Gracie, Gustavo Albieri, Nauhany Silva and Julia Viesi fell in the debut.
At the ITF J200 in St. Poelten, Austria, Luiz Felipe Silva was beaten by Croatian Duje Markovina by 6/2, 2/6 and 6/1. Sofia Perovani fell to Czech Maria Slamenikova, ranked 8th, with scores of 6/7 (4-7), 6/3 and 6/3. Also in the women’s draw, Gabriela Cho lost 6/3 and 6/1 to Ukrainian Yeva Galiievska.
