Nadal Academy's Product Garin Reaches First Hard-Court Challenger Semis

Trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy with Tomy Salva in Malloca, the 20-year-old opted to start his season on cement surface and showed impressive results including the quarter-final last week here at Rama Gardens Hotel.

“I think I have to learn to play in every surface to make me a better player,” said the world No 208 who will reach his career best inside the top 200 next week by making at least the semi-finals in Bangkok.

Despite a squandering a 3-1 lead and having an injury concern on his left leg in the second set, Garin hanged tough to stay in the rallies with Zopp until in the tie-break. Benefited by a double fault from the Estonian, Garin surged ahead at 5-3, then reached match point with a powerful serve before the opponent returned a backhand out to lose the encounter.

“I’m very happy with today’s match as it was the weather was really hot and humid.  I called for a trainer but there was nothing to worry about that. It was just a little bit pain,” added Garin, who won eight ITF Futures and one Challenger on clay between 2014-2016.

Waiting for him in the semi-final is Chinese national player Zhe Li of, the 283^rd ranked who escaped from  two match points in the tie-break to Yannick Maden of Belgium 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 after two hours and 21 minutes of tussles.  

“I think I have good chances because I’m playing well at the moment. But I have to fight for every ball and stay focussed on my game,” the Chilean said.

Daniel Altmaier 

In the other semi-finals, German qualifier Daniel Altmaier fought back from 2-4 down and a lapse of concentration caused by two foot-fault calls by lineman to beat Japanese Shuichi Sekiguchi  6-4 6-1 for his first semi-final appearance on a Challenger Tour.  But a real test awaits him today in the form of former world No 8 and last week’s champion Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, a 6-2 6-2 winner over Axel Michon of France.