HEILBRONN, June 5, 2024

Alejandro Moro Canas and No. 8 seed Jurij Rodionov of Austria headlined Wednesday’s second-round action at the NECKARCUP in Heilbronn. The pair battled for more than three hours with the Spaniard winning 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(1).

In an exciting encounter on a sunny afternoon at the Tennis Club Trappensee, Moro Canas struck five aces and won 59 per cent of his first-service points. The 23-year-old Madrid native saved four match points in the tie-break of the second set to push the match the distance and eventually leave the court as the winner.

Shout it out loud! 📣

Alejandro Moro Cañas 🇪🇸 saves four match points to battle past Jurij Rodionov 🇦🇹 3-6 7-6 7-6 after three hours to reach the QF. #ATPChallenger #NECKARCUP pic.twitter.com/Ue6FARZDoB

— NECKARCUP Heilbronn (@NeckarH) June 5, 2024

“I feel tired. It was a really tough match. I needed some time to find into the match and needed to work, not complain with myself. I changed my attitude into a positive way,” said Moro Canas, who competed in his first main draw on the ATP Tour at the BMW Open in Munich in April and secured his maiden Challenger title in Rome, Italy later in the month.

“It’s my first time here in Heilbronn. I came to the Neckarcup, as many players told me to do so. I am still a young guy on the tour, so I listened to them and I felt at home here from the first moment. The organisation is nice, the courts are very good and I feel comfortable here.

“I am used to play matches like this today. Now I feel tired but the next round will be on Friday. There is still enough time to recover.”

Up next for the World No. 190 will be Briton Jan Choinski, who defeated German qualifier Peter Heller 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 13 minutes.

NECKARCUP RESULTS – JUNE 05, 2024

Singles – Second Round
H. Squire (GER) d [4] M. Marterer (GER) 60 62
A. Moro Canas (ESP) d [8] J. Rodionov (AUT) 36 76(4) 76(1)
A. Ritschard (SUI) d T. Barrios Vera (CHI) 63 63
J. Choinski (GBR) d [Q] P. Heller (GER) 63 63

Doubles – First Round
[1] C. Frantzen (GER) / H. Jebens (GER) d J. Barranco Cosano (ESP) / N. Sanchez Izquierdo (ESP) 64 63
C. Harrison (USA) / F. Martin (FRA) d [2] T. Arribage (FRA) / V. Cornea (ROU) 26 76(4) 10-7
[3] B. Arias (BOL) / F. Zeballos (BOL) d M. Geerts (BEL) / A. Moro Canas (ESP) 64 64
[4] L. Martinez (VEN) / C. Rodriguez (COL) d T. Matsui (JPN) / K. Uesugi (JPN) 63 63
F. Bergevi (SWE) / M. Veldheer (NED) d [WC] J. Engel (GER) / D. Masur (GER) 62 76(4)
J. Schnaitter (GER) / M. Wallner (GER) d B. Hassan (GER) / R. Molleker (GER) 63 57 10-4
G. Ricca (ITA) / A. Virgili (ITA) d [WC] S. Fanselow (GER) / L. Gerch (GER) 64 46 10-1
R. Arneodo (MON) / G. Blancaneaux (FRA) d T. Fancutt (AUS) / M. Janvier (FRA) 26 62 10-4

ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, JUNE 06, 2024
HÖRTKORN CENTER COURT start 12:00 noon
G. Blancaneaux (FRA) vs [5] L. Van Assche (FRA)
[3] S. Nagal (IND) vs J. Barranco Cosano (ESP)

Not Before 3:30 pm
[1] [WC] D. Altmaier (GER) vs M. Kasnikowski (POL)

Not Before 6:00 pm
[1] C. Frantzen (GER) / H. Jebens (GER) vs F. Bergevi (SWE) / M. Veldheer (NED)

COURT 1 start 12:00 noon
N. Sanchez Izquierdo (ESP) vs I. Gakhov
[3] B. Arias (BOL) / F. Zeballos (BOL) vs J. Schnaitter (GER) / M. Wallner (GER)
After Suitable Rest – R. Arneodo (MON) / G. Blancaneaux (FRA) vs C. Harrison (USA) / F. Martin (FRA)

Not Before 4:00 pm
G. Ricca (ITA) / A. Virgili (ITA) vs [4] L. Martinez (VEN) / C. Rodriguez (COL)