Guido Pella and Inigo Cervantes are both through to the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger Tour Finals in Sao Paulo, after both won their second straight matches.
Pella defeated home wildcard Guilherme Clezar, who was a finalist in last year’s event, 6-3, 6-4. Pella is one of the most decorated Challenger players on the tour this season with four titles, all of which came on clay. He won his second match of the year against the Brazilian to advance. Marco Cecchinato was disappointed to lose his second straight match, as he lost to Radu Albot of Moldova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Picks in Bold The defeat means that Cecchinato is now out of the event, and the Italian will be facing Guido Pella as much for pride as anything else. Pella is almost certain of finishing top of the group, requiring only a set to finish first. The position that is yet to be decided is the other qualifier. it will be decided by the winner of Radu Albot and Guilherme Clezar. Clezar has an excellent record in Sao Paulo that belies his ranking, though Albot played Pella close in the first round-robin fixture.
Group B also has a confirmed semi-finalist in the shape of Spaniard Inigo Cervantes. He defeated top seed Paolo Lorenzi in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 for his second win to confirm his participation in the latter stages. At the other end Farrukh Dustov is now out after two matches, following 7-6, 6-1 defeat to Daniel Munoz-De La Nava. It ensures that Munoz-De La Nava has the chance to join his compatriot Inigo Cervantes in the semi-finals provided he can beat top seed Lorenzi on the final day of group play.
Being top after two days, Pella and Cervantes and are now likely to avoid one another, as the two in-form players. There is the potential for the first and second seeds to meet in the semi-finals if Lorenzi beats Munoz-De La Nava. Guilherme Clezar still has the opportunity to defend the heavy ranking points he earned at this event last year.
