Wind and underdogs shake up quarter-finals at the Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100
Friday’s action at Club de Tenis Ciutadella was shaped by strong winds and unexpected results, as top seeds fell and those who adapted best went through.
Wind, upsets and early exits defined Friday’s play at the Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100, with the singles quarter-finals and doubles semi-finals taking place at Club de Tenis Ciutadella.
Gusts reaching over 50 km/h disrupted the early matches, leading to unforced errors and rewarding those able to handle the conditions. Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, the tournament’s second seed, was knocked out by an inspired Vilius Gaubas, while in doubles, two unseeded pairs secured their place in Saturday’s final.
Gaubas stuns No.2 seed in a blustery battle
The morning began with tough conditions. The strong south-southeasterly wind made accuracy a challenge—particularly for Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, who struggled to find his rhythm and lost in straight sets to a confident Vilius Gaubas, 7-6(2), 6-2. The Lithuanian seventh seed played smart, stayed solid at the baseline and capitalised on his opponent’s mistakes.
Earlier on Centre Court, Peru’s Ignacio Buse was the first to reach the singles semi-finals. Facing Hungarian qualifier Zsombor Piros, Buse handled the gusty conditions well and came through 7-6(4), 6-3. His ability to stay focused and manage the wind made the difference in a tightly contested opening set.
With the wind easing later in the day, an all-Spanish clash between Pol Martín Tiffon and fifth seed Carlos Taberner delivered another gripping battle. Taberner started strong, taking the first set 6-4, but Martín Tiffon raised his game both physically and tactically to turn things around with a 6-4, 6-3 comeback win—earning his first ATP Challenger semi-final of the season.
The final singles quarter-final saw Austria’s Lukas Neumayer get past fourth seed Elmer Moller of Denmark in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Neumayer kept his cool in a fast-paced match, converting key break points in both sets to round off the day’s singles action.
Saturday’s singles semi-final line-up:
•Ignacio Buse (PER) vs [7] Vilius Gaubas (LTU)
•Pol Martín Tiffon (ESP) vs Lukas Neumayer (AUT)
Both matches will be streamed live on ATP Challenger TV, Eurosport Max, Marca TV and Tennis Channel from 11:00 a.m. on Saturday 5 April.
Doubles final set: unseeded teams rise to the occasion
The doubles semi-finals brought more surprises. Wildcards Andrea and Matteo Vavassori put in a composed and well-synchronised performance to defeat the No.3 seeds Daniel Cukierman and Joshua Paris. With a solid serve and clever shot selection in the breeze, the Italian duo sealed a 6-3, 6-3 win.
In the second semi-final, Lebanon’s Benjamin Hassan and Sebastian Ofner — returning to the court not long after his singles exit — dominated their match against Spaniards Daniel Rincón and Oriol Roca Batalla. The unseeded pair imposed their rhythm early and controlled the net, taking the match 6-1, 6-4.
The doubles final will take place on Saturday at 3:00 p.m., featuring: [WC] Andrea Vavassori (ITA) / Matteo Vavassori (ITA) vs Benjamin Hassan (LBN) / Sebastian Ofner (AUT)
Saturday’s line-up promises drama and quality tennis
Saturday’s penultimate day at the Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 will test the stamina and skill of the remaining players in what’s fast becoming a standout tournament on the ATP Challenger calendar.
Supported by Consell Insular de Menorca, AETIB, and Ajuntament de Ciutadella, alongside sponsors such as San Miguel, Solán de Cabras, Joma, Marca, Bolt 6, Conecta Balear and Led Projects, the tournament is gaining momentum as a high-level competition and a launchpad for emerging talent.
National and international coverage ensures the matches are broadcast far and wide via ATP Challenger TV, Eurosport Max, Marca TV and Tennis Channel, bringing the excitement from Ciutadella’s clay courts to tennis fans around the globe.
