POZOBLANCO/STARNBERG, July 17, 2025
The Open Ciudad de Pozoblanco saw a major upset on Wednesday night as Lithuania’s Edas Butvilas knocked out third seed and local favorite Alejandro Moro Canas in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the ATP Challenger Tour event in Andalucia. The 19-year-old delivered a powerful performance on the fast, high-altitude hard courts that suit his game perfectly, turning the match around after a slow start to outclass the Spaniard.
Moro Canas began the match in control, breaking Butvilas in the third game and holding firm despite facing early break points in the fourth. Up 4-2, the Spaniard looked set to impose his rhythm. But Butvilas, unfazed, found his range behind a dominant first serve, hitting seven aces and winning 80 per cent of his first-service points. He broke back in the eighth game and surged ahead to take the first set 6-4.
From that point, the Lithuanian teenager took command. While Moro Canas fought hard to stay in the match, saving nine break points in the second set, it was only a matter of time. Butvilas eventually capitalized on his tenth opportunity, breaking for 5-3 and sealing the match in one hour and 49 minutes. It was a statement win for the rising star, who had already impressed in Pozoblanco in 2023.
Monday survives double tiebreak battle
Fourth seed Johannus Monday also booked his place in the quarterfinals, edging past Chile’s Matias Soto in a tense and tightly contested encounter, 7-6(4), 7-6(8). The tall Briton relied heavily on his powerful serve to dictate play, fending off Soto’s aggressive baseline game and refusing to allow break point opportunities for much of the match.
The first set saw both players holding serve comfortably, leading to an inevitable tiebreak. Monday gained an early mini-break and maintained the lead to close out the set. In the second, Soto showed renewed energy and broke early for 2-1, but Monday responded immediately to level the score.
Despite Soto pushing hard to extend the match, it was Monday who held firm in a dramatic second-set tiebreak, saving set points and converting on his second match point to advance.
Pereira stuns seventh seed
In the most one-sided result of the day, Portugal’s Tiago Pereira stunned seventh seed Khumoyun Sultanov of Uzbekistan with a ruthless 6-1, 6-1 victory. The Portuguese alternate, who entered the draw at the last minute, broke in the opening game and never looked back. Sultanov, usually a dangerous opponent, was unable to counter Pereira’s consistent depth and pace, capitulating in under an hour.
In an all-Spanish affair, Daniel Merida edged past wild card entry Rafael Jodar, winning 7-5, 6-3. The No. 5 seed won 55 per cent of the total points played to prevail after one hour and 16 minutes.
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
WEDNESDAY RESULTS
Singles – Second Round
Edas Butvilas (LTU) def. [3] Alejandro Moro Canas (ESP) 6-4, 6-3
[4] Johannus Monday (GBR) def. Matias Soto (CHI) 7-6(4), 7-6(8)
[Alt] Tiago Pereira (POR) def. [7] Khumoyun Sultanov (UZB) 6-1, 6-1
[5] Daniel Merida (ESP) def. Rafael Jodar (ESP) 7-5, 6-3
