MAIA/STARNBERG, December 1, 2023
French veteran Benoit Paire headlined Friday’s quarterfinal action at the Maia Open earning a hard-fought victory. The 34-year-old Avignon native battled past fifth seed Elias Ymer of Sweden 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Paire struck four aces and won 76 per cent of his first-service points to advance in two hours and one minute.
Of course I had to give @benoitpaire my advice on the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s when he told me and @stevefgracio he was about to go explore Porto 🍟 pic.twitter.com/ttvfgCcEyR
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) December 1, 2023
The No. 3 seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 100 indoor clay-court event in northern Portugal will next take on Maxime Janvier of France, who knocked out second-seeded Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 24 minutes.
In the top half of the draw, top seed and home favourite Nuno Borges rallied from a set down to overcome sixth-seeded Italian Andrea Vavassori 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-3. The World No. 78 capitalized on three of his seven break-point chances and won six points less than his opponent but prevailed after two hours and 17 minutes.
Comeback complete: local star @nunoborges97 fights from 2-6, 3-5 and 4-5 (0-30) down to defeat Andrea Vavassori 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 in front of hundreds of fans and seal a spot in the SFs of “his” #MaiaOpen, the @ATPChallenger held at his childhood club.
Epic scenes in the end! pic.twitter.com/XDJdyt9eZt
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) December 1, 2023
Up next for Borges will be Frenchman Matteo Martineau, who ended the run of British qualifier Anton Matusevich, winning 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 20 minutes.
