World no. 44 Pedro Martinez will compete in his first ATP 500 quarter-final since Hamburg in July last year. The Spaniard took down Holger Rune 6-4, 6-1 in an hour and 23 minutes in the second round, arranging the clash against Carlos Alcaraz.
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The Dane struggled with fever and could not perform at his best. Holger asked for doctors after the opening set. He continued but failed to match the rival's pace in set number two, embracing another early exit. Martinez dropped 13 points in nine service games.
The Spaniard got broken once and kept the pressure on his opponent on the return. Pedro grabbed48% of the return points and converted them into four breaks from eight opportunities.
The lower-ranked player hit 12 winners and 13 unforced errors. He did not have to do more after Holger's 44 unforced errors, over 30 from his forehand! The Spaniard took charge from the baseline and brought the victory home in style.
The Dane made a slow start and sprayed a forehand error in the second game of the clash to fall behind. World no. 14 landed a forehand down the line winner in the third game, pulling the break back and securing his only return game.
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Rune held after deuces in the sixth game and remained on the positive side. He closed the eighth game with an unreturned serve, locking the result at 4-4. Martinez climbed back from 0-30 in the ninth game and held after a deuce for 5-4.
Holger missed a forehand in the tenth game and faced a set point. He sent another forehand long to drop serve and hand the opening set to his rival 6-4 in 45 minutes. Rune held after a deuce in the second game of the second set with a volley winner.
Pedro made a push on the return in the fourth game and generated five break points. Holger netted a routine forehand on the last, losing serve and moving closer to the exit door. The Spaniard held at love with a forehand winner in the fifth game and forged a 4-1 advantage.
The Dane netted a backhand in the sixth game, falling 5-1 behind and allowing his rival to serve for the win. Martinez held at love in game seven, moving over the top in style and arranging the quarter-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
