Llamas continues to shape his ATP Tour dream | ATP Tour

Estoril

Llamas continues to shape his ATP Tour dream

The Spaniard competes in his third final draw in Estoril

April 03, 2024

By ATPTour.com/es Staff

The Millennium Estoril Open sees the rise of an unexpected protagonist, one of those names that are difficult to find in the pools at the beginning of the tournament. At 21 years old, with unusual strength after overcoming the previous phase, the Spanish Pablo Llamas has managed to turn heads on the clay of Cascais, where he aspires to sign one of the great weeks of his professional life.

Present in the third ATP Tour final draw of his sporting career, the Jerez native has taken on the challenge responsibly. Llamas managed to defeat German eighth seed Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 6-3 this Wednesday, knocking down two unprecedented doors. Because his victory against the world No. 52 was unknown to him: he had never before knocked down a seed or a tennis player of such high rank on the circuit.

The Portuguese emergence of Llamas is the umpteenth step up a staircase. The man from Cadiz has placed firm pillars in his career in recent months, competing in his first ATP Tour draws (Lyon 2023, Montpellier 2024), lifting his first ATP Challenger Tour crown (Segovia 2023) and participating in the last three Grand Slam tournaments. with the presence of the previous phases of Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open.

The 2024 season promises to be a great learning curve for the Spaniard, who has accumulated important experiences in the first months of the year. Llamas had an epic week at the Open Sud de France in February, achieving the biggest victory of his career against former No. 7 Richard Gasquet and facing a Top 10 figure for the first time when he crossed blows with Holger Rune. Experiences that are tanning the tennis of an emerging talent in the locker room.

Llamas’ adventure in Estoril will now take on a strong Spanish aroma. The Jerez native will face his compatriot David Jorda Sanchis in the second round of Estoril, who this Wednesday took advantage of his status as lucky loser to beat local Jaime Faria 7-6(4), 6-1 and sign the first ATP Tour victory of his career at the age of 29. An unprecedented place in the quarterfinals awaits both in a clash full of enormous opportunity.

Did you know…?
Pablo Llamas could debut in the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings next Monday, although he will have to go through a very demanding path. In a clay field featuring two former Roland Garros finalists, a test of level on the surface, the Spaniard would need to lift his first ATP Tour title to complete the feat.