PORTO, August 27, 2025
The CT Porto Cup, an ATP Challenger Tour 75 clay-court event organized by the Portuguese Tennis Federation, will feature at least one home player in the quarterfinals after Frederico Silva, Francisco Rocha, and Tiago Torres joined Pedro Araujo in the second round. The tournament, staged at Clube de Tenis do Porto until Sunday, saw mixed fortunes for the local contingent on Tuesday, with Henrique Rocha the only Portuguese eliminated.
World No. 821 Francisco Rocha was the first to advance after just 38 minutes of play, when US-American Maxwell McKennon was forced to retire with a painful left-shoulder injury. Rocha was already leading 4-2 and pressing for a double break when McKennon broke down in tears and was unable to continue.
The victory marked Rocha’s second career main-draw win at Challenger level, following his breakthrough in December 2023 at his home club in Maia. To reach his first quarterfinal at this level, he will need to upset second seed Guy den Ouden from the Netherlands, who battled past Croatia’s Mili Poljicak 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
His younger brother, Henrique Rocha, returned from New York just four days after falling in the final round of US Open qualifying. Fatigue showed as he lost 7-6(4), 6-0 to Swiss Mika Brunold.
Later in the day, two more Portuguese left-handers earned victories, ensuring a home presence in the last eight. World No. 255 Frederico Silva outlasted Spanish qualifier Max Alcala Gurri 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in a physical battle lasting two hours and 49 minutes. It was Silva’s first Challenger win on Portuguese clay since the Lisbon Belém Open in September 2024.
“I knew it would be a tough match because of his playing style,” Silva explained. “He plays very consistently, forcing errors and counterattacking. I had to stay patient and build the points, which is tiring, but I was prepared and managed to keep calm.”
Closing the day, 20-year-old Tiago Torres scored his first-ever main-draw win at Challenger level with a gritty 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Czech Hynek Barton. A month ago, Torres had come close in Porto, reaching his first Challenger main draw but failing to close out a match against eventual finalist Francesco Maestrelli.
Back in Porto, this time on clay, Torres nearly relived that experience when serving for the match at 5-3 in the decider. But after regrouping and using the wind to his advantage, he sealed the win against last year’s Vale do Lobo finalist.
Que vitória! Tiago Torres bate Hynek Barton por 6-3, 1-6 e 6-4 e está pela primeira vez na segunda ronda de um Challenger!
Ficou muito perto no Eupago Porto Open, consegue agora na CT Porto Cup. Está a jogar muito, teve pormenores deliciosos no terceiro set. pic.twitter.com/tmJJFXQryn
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) August 26, 2025
“That previous experience had a big influence today,” Torres admitted. “Against Maestrelli, I stopped hitting the ball when it mattered most. This time, even when I felt the nerves, I promised myself I’d keep swinging. I even joked that I was playing baseball, but I knew I’d still get another chance with the wind on my side. It worked out.”
Torres now faces compatriot Frederico Silva in a highly anticipated all-lefty clash. “Honestly, he was the one player I wanted to avoid in the draw,” Torres smiled. “But I’m also excited because I’ve admired him since I was a kid. He has the responsibility as the higher-ranked player, and I don’t usually enjoy playing lefties — the ball comes with a very different spin. But it should be fun.”
