Pedro Martinez Claims First-Ever ATP Title at Chile Open

It’s a special first for Pedro Martinez.

The 24-year-old Spanish professional tennis player won the Chile Open clay-court tournament on Sunday with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Sebastian Baez.

Pedro MartinezIt was Martinez’s first professional title.

Martinez lost last year’s Kitzbuhel Open in Austria in another clay-court tournament.

Baez also was attempting to win his first pro title.

Martinez’s path to the title included victories against his countryman Jaume Munar, Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann and Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.

“I have competed, competed, and at last I made it,” Martinez said. “This is a new step in my career. And I am ready for whatever comes next.”

Baez said he was happy with the week despite his loss in the final.

“In the important moments, Pedro was better than me today,” he said. “Maybe he was more focused. I will work on that and come back better next year.”

Pablo Carreno Busta Outlasts Jaume Munar to Claim First Andalucia Open Title

Pablo Carreno Busta is celebrating a special first…

The 29-year-old Spanish professional tennis player won his first ATP Tour title at home on Sunday, defeating fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 to claim the Andalucia Open trophy in Marbella.

Pablo Carreno Busta

Carreno Busta, the top seed, clinched his 200th tour-level victory by defeating the 23-year-old in the championship match. Carreno Busta needed to summon all of his experience to triumph after two hours and 21 minutes.

“I suffered like yesterday trying to continue fighting all the time… I needed to do it if I wanted to win this kind of match,” Carreno Busta said. “It’s a pleasure to win a title here in Spain, in Marbella. For me, it’s very special. It’s my fifth title, so I’m very, very happy for the victory.”

The level reached its peak towards the end of the match, with both men hitting sensational shots under an incredible amount of pressure. From magical drop shots to jaw-dropping half-volleys, they certainly showed their racquet skills on the Spanish clay.

“I started really good, really focused, being very aggressive,” Carreno Busta said. “After that I missed a little bit and Jaume started to play better and at the end.”

Now a five-time ATP Tour titlist, Carreno Busta was relentless in his pursuit of the win. At 4-4 in the decider, Munar fought hard to avoid losing serve. But on his seventh break point of the game, the favorite finally made good on his opportunity, blasting a backhand return up the line from deep in the court to force an error from his younger adversary.

Carreno Busta earned 17 break points in the match. Although he was unable to convert just four of them, it was enough to claim his first title since Chengdu in 2019. He earned 250 ATP Rankings points.

Next Gen ATP Finals alumnus Munar put forth a tremendous effort in his maiden ATP Tour final. The World No. 95 scratched and clawed no matter what Carreno Busta threw at him, but it was not enough to earn his first crown at this level. The World No. 15 was just a bit better on the day.

Munar, who captured 150 points, was comfortable in Marbella, where he’s now 12-3 on the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour combined. He reached Challenger finals at this venue in 2020 and 2021 before his impressive run this week.

Jaume Munar Defeats Fabio Fognini to Advance to the Argentina Open Quarterfinals

Jaume Munaris making his mark in Argentina…

The 21-year-old Spanish tennis player defeated No. 2 seed Fabio Fognini at the Argentina Open 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday in the round of 16.

Jaume Munar

Fognini’s compatriot, third-seeded Marco Cecchinato, had better luck and won his tie with Chile’s Christian Garin 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Cecchinato will play Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena in the quarterfinals. The Spaniard advanced after a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

In an all-Argentine game, Guido Pella beat Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5).

Pella will face Spain’s Munar in the next round of the clay court tournament.

No. 1 seed Dominic Thiem of Austria will play his first match in the Argentina Open on Thursday against Germany’s Maximilian Marterer.

Alex de Minaur Advances to the Finals of the Next Gen ATP Finals

Alex de Minaur is one win away…

The 19-year-old Spanish & Uruguyan-Australian tennis player, the youngest player at the Next Gen ATP Finals, has advanced to the finals of the tournament.

Alex de Minaur

de Minaur, ranked No. 31 in the world, ousted the No. 7 seed Jaume Munar of Spain 3-4, 4-1, 4-1 3-4, 4-2 in two hours for the place in the title match, where he’ll face Stefanos Tsitsipas.

It’s his fourth win this week in Milan.

de Minaurwas the better player on the court, playing with aggression and keeping the points on his racquet, despite missing several chances to finish the match earlier.

He served at 72% and had 10 aces, saving all five break points he faced to keep the pressure on Munar, who gave his best to stay in touch with the better-ranked rival and reach the fifth set, defending 13 out of 17 break points he faced and saving the first five match points he had to play against.

de Minaur blasted fire from his forehand to hit 43 winners and 20 unforced errors, while Munar stayed on 19 winners and 24 errors, missing too many forehands and losing the edge in the shortest points where de Minaurmade the crucial difference.

Alex de Minaur Rolls Into the Next Gen ATP Finals Semifinals

Alex de Minaur is on a roll…

The 19-year-old Spanish & Uruguyan-Australian tennis player, the youngest player at the Next Gen ATP Finals, has stormed into the semifinals undefeated after securing a straight sets win over Taylor Fritz in Milan Thursday.

Alex de Minaur

de Minaur, the tournament’s No.2 seed, overcame Fritz, ranked No. 47 in the ATP rankings, 4-3(8), 4-1, 4-2 to secure his spot in the semifinals on Friday.

He’ll now face Jaume Munar after the Spaniard defeated Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-3(3), 4-1 to finish second in Group A.

Topping the group was Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, after he overcame Hubert Hurkacz 4-1, 4-3(3), 4-1.

Tsitsipas will face the runner up of Group B, Andrey Rublev, after the Russian defeated Liam Caruana in straight sets.