Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100: Singles quarter-finals and doubles semi-finals now set

Ofner, Taberner and Piros shine in the singles round of 16 on a day when the doubles competition raised the stakes, with Vavassori and Rincón/Roca Batalla securing their place in the semi-finals. The stage is now set for Friday’s quarter-finals, broadcast live from 10:00 a.m. on multiple platforms.

The Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 reached a crucial point on Thursday 3 April at Club Tenis Ciutadella, with the singles quarter-final lineup confirmed and the doubles semi-finals now decided. The day was packed with closely contested matches that kept the crowd hooked from start to finish.

Beneath the Menorcan sun and in the face of gusty winds that tested the precision of several players, the tournament entered its final stretch—proving once again why this event has become a standout fixture on the ATP Challenger calendar.

Singles: seeds stand strong and a qualifier keeps fighting

On centre court, second seed Sebastian Ofner of Austria asserted his authority over Spain’s Javier Barranco Cosano, taking the win 1-6, 7-6(0). Despite the one-sided first set, the second was tightly fought, with Barranco raising his level and drawing applause from the stands before Ofner closed it out in the tiebreak.

In an all-Spanish clash, fifth seed Carlos Taberner came from behind to beat qualifier Daniel Mérida, who had stunned him in the opening set (6-3). Taberner held his nerve and used his experience to turn things around 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, as Mérida began to feel the absence of coaching support courtside.

A national upset came when Pol Martín Tiffon convincingly ousted former world No. 50 Albert Ramos-Viñolas (1-6, 4-6), maintaining composure and consistency throughout a match that offered the veteran little room to respond.

In an intercontinental matchup, Ignacio Buse from Peru, fresh off his victory over Marin Cilic, delivered another dominant performance, dismantling Daniel Rincón 6-0, 6-1. Buse continues to emerge as one of the breakout stars of the tournament.

One of the day’s most anticipated matches saw Britain’s Jan Choinski [6] take on Hungarian qualifier Zsombor Piros, who pulled off an impressive upset with a 6-4, 6-4 win. Piros is now the only player from the qualifying draw still standing.

Austria’s Lukas Neumayer also advanced to the quarter-finals, recovering from a close first set to defeat wild card Pedro Cachín 7-6(2), 6-0 and leave a strong impression.

Elsewhere, Vilius Gaubas [7] of Lithuania posted a solid 7-5, 6-3 win over France’s Arthur Gea, while Elmer Moller [4][SE] of Denmark overcame a tight opener to breeze past Benjamin Hassan 7-6(7), 6-0—further cementing his place among the tournament favourites.

Quarter-final matchups confirmed

Friday’s singles quarter-finals are set to deliver high-intensity tennis with these pairings:

• Zsombor Piros [Q] (HUN) vs Ignacio Buse (PER)
• Vilius Gaubas [7] (LTU) vs Sebastian Ofner [2] (AUT)
• Pol Martín Tiffon (ESP) vs Carlos Taberner [5] (ESP)
• Elmer Moller [4][SE] (DEN) vs Lukas Neumayer (AUT)

Doubles: high drama as semi-finals take shape

The doubles draw was just as entertaining, with four pairs progressing to the semi-finals after a string of matches filled with variety and intensity.

Wildcard pairing Andrea and Matteo Vavassori from Italy delivered a commanding performance against the Czech duo Barnat/Duda, sealing the win 6-4, 6-1 and celebrating with the crowd after their standout points.

Benjamin Hassan (LBN) and Sebastian Ofner (AUT) continued their good form, edging out Poonacha/Martos Gornes in a hard-fought encounter 6-4, 5-7, 10-5, showcasing great physical effort in long rallies.

Spanish duo Daniel Rincón and Oriol Roca Batalla posted a convincing 6-3, 7-6(5) win over second seeds Ingildsen/Stevenson, combining aggressive net play with rock-solid baseline consistency.

Closing the day’s schedule were third seeds Daniel Cukierman (ISR) and Joshua Paris (GBR), who outlasted Myneni/Ramanathan 7-5, 6(2)-7, 10-4 in one of the most emotionally charged matches of the day.

Doubles semi-final line-up:

• [WC] A. Vavassori / M. Vavassori vs [3] Cukierman / Paris
• Hassan / Ofner vs Rincón / Roca Batalla

A tournament with growing international prestige

With institutional support from the Consell Insular de Menorca, Ajuntament de Ciutadella, and AETIB, alongside sponsorship from brands like San Miguel, Solán de Cabras, Joma, and Bolt 6, the Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 continues to grow in stature. Its ability to attract both emerging talent and engaged local fans speaks to its rising profile on the international tennis scene.

With excitement building, Friday 4 April promises top-tier action as the final eight players battle for a place in the singles semi-finals, and the best four doubles pairs compete for a spot in Sunday’s final.

To top it off, the first two singles quarter-finals will be broadcast live from 10:00 a.m. on ATP Challenger TV, Eurosport Max, Marca TV, and Tennis Channel, offering the event broad national and international exposure.