Martinez Manages Monteiro Marathon In Cordoba
Pedro Martinez was two points from defeat on Monday in Argentina, but the Spaniard found a way to win.
The eighth seed battled past Brazilian Thiago Monteiro 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in two hours and 57 minutes to reach the second round at the Cordoba Open. Monteiro served for the match at 5-3 in the third set, but never held a match point.
At 30/15 in that game, the Brazilian was in a good position to close out a victory. But Martinez guessed right at net for a volley on that point before staving off a forehand barrage from Monteiro on the next point and eventually breaking back to get on serve.
[WATCH LIVE 1]Martinez will next play German Yannick Hanfmann or Argentine wild card Juan Ignacio Londero. The Spaniard reached his first ATP Tour final last year on clay in Kitzbühel.
The second main draw match of the day also went to a final-set tie-break. Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas outlasted home favourite Facundo Bagnis 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5) after three hours and 17 minutes.