Photo: WPT

The round of 16 of the Menorca Open men’s draw has made it clear that the top seeds are giving their all in this tournament. In this round there were no notable surprises, some of the favorites suffered more than others to get through to the round of 16, but they advanced to the round.

The number one couple in the world, Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello, got their place in the quarterfinals after defeating Juan Cruz Bellauti and Arnau Ayats quickly, 6-3/6-1. The Spanish-Argentine couple played a very solid game. They started with a great rhythm of play, which translated into an initial 3-0. Their rivals reacted but Tapia and Coello signed up for the first set. In the second, the world number ones maintained their level of play and gave their rivals no option.

In the next round they will face Álex Ruiz and Juan Tello who won a very close match against Pincho Fernández and Gonzalo Rubio 6-4/6-4. Ruiz and Tello managed to tip the balance in their favor thanks to the opportunity to rest they had in the first round. They managed to take advantage of it and score the first set. History repeated itself in the second, both couples did not give away their serves until Tello and Ruiz got oil.

Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz won their round of 16 match, against Álvaro Cepero and Mario Del Castillo, with solvency by a double 6-2. Nieto and Sanz gave a great level from the first minute of the match, which was reflected in the quick 4-0 advantage they obtained in the first set. Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz dominated the court and did not give their rivals any options in the hour and 15 minutes that the match lasted. He will meet Paquito Navarro and Fede Chingotto in the penultimate round of the tournament. The number four couple in the ranking took the victory in two sets, suffered, 7-5/7-6 against Miguel Yanguas and Víctor Ruíz.

Suffered comeback by Momo González and Javi Garrido

Photo: WPT

On the other side of the draw, Momo González and Javi Garrido had to do their best to turn the duel against Álex Chozas and Lucho Capra 6-7/6-4/6-0. González and Garrido started behind in the first set, which went to a tiebreak, in the second set they reacted, in the last they did not give their rivals any options and achieved victory.

In the round of 16 they will face off against Juan Lebron and Ale Galán who got their ticket to the round of 16 after defeating Marc Quílez and Toni Bueno 6-2/7-5. A good start from Lebron and Galán quickly put them ahead on the scoreboard. The third couple in the ranking managed to quickly close the first set with a 6-2. The second round was a little more complicated for them, despite starting the same as the first. Quílez and Bueno knew how to react but finally Galán and Lebron took the victory.

The number two in the world, the Argentine Martín Di Nenno and Franco Stupaczuk did not have excessive problems to get rid of Pablo Cardona and Javi Ruíz by 6-2/6-1. The Argentine couple once again showed their great form, which led them to win in Amsterdam, and once again they achieved a victory. The superkids were superior throughout the match and did not give Pablo Cardona and Javi Ruíz any options. Their rivals in the round of 16 will be Miguel Benítez and Josete Rico, the revelation couple of this tournament. It seems that getting together has been good for the two players because in their two games as a couple they have managed to win despite the difficulties. In the round of 16 they achieved victory after defeating Miguel Lamperti and Juan Martín Díaz in three sets by 6-4/0-6/6-4.

There are only eight couples left alive in the Menorca Open, who will face each other on Friday in the quarterfinals. From these matches the four semi-finalist pairs of the tournament will emerge. The quarterfinals of the Menorca Open arrive loaded with quality and aim to be great matches. These are the matchups of the penultimate round of the tournament:

Tapia/Coello vs Ruiz/Tello
Nieto/Sanz vs Chingotto/Navarro
Galán/Lebron vs González/Garrido
Benitez/Rico vs Stupaczuk/Di Nenno