Spaniards Pablo Carreno-Busta and Tommy Robredo book spots in the Oeiras second round on Tuesday. They earn respective victories over Julien Benneteau and Daniel Gimeno-Traver.
(Q) Pablo Carreno-Busta d. (5) Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-4
Carreno-Busta, who has won seven Futures titles in 2013, posted a third ATP-level victory this season by dismissing Benneteau in one hour and 33 minutes during first-round action at the Portugal Open on Tuesday. Benneteau, on the other hand, had not won a match since mid-February. The trends continued early and often in this one, with Carreno-Busta converting both of his break chances in the opening set. The 21-year-old Spaniard donated serve once, but he saved three break points to successfully close out the set at 5-3.
The second frame of play progressed in similar fashion, with Benneteau breaking once but dropping his own serve twice. Oeiras’ No. 5 seed, who is at risk of missing out on a French Open seed at 33rd in the world rankings, served at 62 percent in the second to his opponent’s 45 percent, but he was once again thoroughly outclassed from the baseline. Carreno-Busta finished off the proceedings on serve at 5-4 to ensure a meeting with David Goffin in round two.
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(8) Tommy Robredo d. Daniel Gimeno-Traver 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
Match toughness also played a role in this one, with the player who has been earning victories left and right getting the best of an opponent in search of momentum. Robredo, the winner in Casablanca and a quarterfinalist in Barcelona, overcame Gimeno-Traver in one hour and 47 minutes on Tuesday evening. The 31-year-old, however, got off to an extremely slow start. He won only four points in four return games during the first set while fighting off none of the break points he faced.
Gimeno-Traver was twice within two games of victory late in the second, but he could not seal the deal. The world No. 52 held at love to stay in the match at 4-5 but he double-faulted three times at 5-6 (the last on a foot-fault) to throw away the set. Two breaks were exchanged to start the third, with Gimeno-Traver pulling ahead then giving it back immediately for 1-1. Robredo broke again for 3-1 and served it out from there, clinching the win at 5-3, 40-30 when Gimeno-Traver struck a forehand wide. The 38th-ranked Spaniard will battle Robin Haase for spot in the quarterfinals.
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