AUGSBURG/STARNBERG, August 25, 2023

Carlos Taberner and Oriol Roca Batalla will compete in an-all-Spanish singles final at the second edition of the Schwaben Open in Augsburg.

Taberner defeated No. 7 seed Timo Stodder of Germany 6-3, 6-3 in the stage of the last four on Friday. The 26-year-old from Valencia converted six of his 17 break-point chances to secure victory in one hour and 32 minutes.

Carlos Taberner on 🔝 form

The 🇪🇸 will face fellow Spaniard Roca Batalla in the final after defeating Stodder 6-3, 6-3 in Augsburg#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/SJ47g4uCJc

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 25, 2023

“The match was tougher than the result suggests. Timo is a strong baseline player with a good rhythm, so I had to play my best tennis to win the match,” said Taberner.

Roca Batalla ended the run of Brazilian qualifier Nicolas Zanellato, beating the 21-year-old 6-3, 6-4. The World No. 296 from Barcelona broke his rival three times and won 55 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 24 minutes.

“From the beginning, I tried to play aggressively and often approach the net through his backhand. At the start of the second set, I let up a bit and he also played better. Then, on the return, I moved closer to the baseline and shifted my position further into the court, which allowed me to win the match in my favor,” said Roca Batalla.

Asked about his opponent in the final, he responded: “I know him well as a fellow countryman, and it’s going to be a tough match. Neither of us are big servers, but we’re good all-around players from the baseline, so the final will feature many long and intense rallies.”

Taberner is bidding for his sixth ATP Challenger Tour career title, his first of the season. Following 27 triumphs on the ITF Pro Circuit, Roca Batalla could lift his maiden Challenger trophy. He leads the pair’s head-to-head record 3-1.