The ATP Challenger Murcia Open has opened the competition in the facilities of the Murcia Tennis Club with high level matches. The tracks of the Murcian club welcomed the first matches of a tournament that will distribute 46,600 euros in prizes and that will have free access throughout the week for all audiences.

One of the highlights of the first day was the debut of Tommy Robredo. The Catalan tennis player has completed his premiere against Serbian Danilo Petrovic in three sets (6-2, 2-6 and 6-4), in one hour and 45 minutes.

Along with Robredo, the Spaniards Gerard Granollers, Carlos Boluda, Roberto Ortega-Olmedo, Oriol Roca, David Vega and Bernabé Zapata, who have defeated David Pérez, Iván Nedelko, Carlos López, Pere Riba, Fabricio Neis and Johan Tatlot, respectively.

The Brazilian Thomaz Belluci, one of the favorites of the tournament, has also been imposed in three sets to the Portuguese Joao Domingues (3-6, 6-4 and 6-4). The day will be completed with the matches between Gakhov-Bronzi and Neis-Brancaccio.

The competition will continue on Tuesday at the tracks of the Murcia Tennis Club. It will be time to witness the premiere of the Murcian players Nicolás Almagro and Carlos Alcaraz, who will play respectively Mario Vilella and Gleb Sakharov.

Carlos Alcaraz (15 years old) will open the first turn of the afternoon (not before 5:00 p.m.) in the central court. Opposite will be Frenchman Gleb Sakharov, 30 years old and current number 267 ATP.

Alcaraz will be one of the great attractions of the ATP Challenger Murcia Open after winning its first victory in the Challenger circuit against the Italian Jannik Sinner, 17 years old in the first round of Ferrero Challenger.

Immediately after that it will be Almagro’s turn, which will end the day on the tracks of the Murcia Club de Tenis against Mario Vilella. The Murcian announced today that this will be his last tournament in the professional circuit. After a career of 16 years as an ATP player, in which he has won 13 titles and after reaching the ninth position in the ATP ranking, Almagro will end his career at the ATP Challenger Murcia Open.

Photo: Andrés Molina.