Estoril Open 2007 News and Events

Alejandro Falla
© João Lagos Sports

Spaniard Alberto Martin, Alejandro Falla of Columbia, France’s Olivier Patience and Santiago Ventura of Spain all booked their places in the main draw of the 18th Estoril Open on Sunday.

Martin, currently No. 94 in the ATP Rankings, battled past Serbian Dusan Vemic 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 in the second round of qualifying in two hours and 32 minutes.

The 29-year-old Martin will appear in the main draw for the first time since 2003, when he lost in the first round to Max Mirnyi of Belarus.

Falla cruised past Albert Portas of Spain 6-2, 6-1 in just 52 minutes. Falla, who has a 6-6 ATP-level record this year, will make his debut at the tournament.

Patience knocked out World No. 75 Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-1, 7-5 in 86 minutes. Patience will hope to improve his 1-4 ATP-level record this year in his first ATP tournament since Costa do Sauipe in February.

Ventura survived a final set scare to overcome Mathieu Montcourt of France 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 and take his place in the main draw. Ventura led 4-1 in the third set, only to see Montcourt claw his way back.

SEEDS FALL IN WOMEN'S QUALIFYING

In the women’s qualifying competition Spain’s Laura Pous Tio advanced to the third and final round with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Justine Ozga of Germany.

Meanwhile, Czech Renata Voracova and Kristina Barrois of Germany, both seeded, fell to lower ranked opponents.

Russian Ekaterina Makarova accounted for Voracova 7-5, 6-1, while Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain defeated Barrois 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4.