Estoril 2024 Wednesday Martinez Llamas | ATP Tour

Estoril

Martínez scores gallons on the Estoril clay

The Valencian cites Roberto Bautista Agut on the Portuguese clay

April 03, 2024

By ATPTour.com/es Staff

Pedro Martínez wants to be one of the names of the European clay court tour. The Spaniard marked the territory at the Millennium Estoril Open with a stellar debut, underlining the good form he is going through on the surface. At 26 years old, enjoying recent fatherhood, the Valencian once again finds the harmony of hits that led him to reach the World Top 40.

In a solid performance, Martínez beat German Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-2 this Wednesday, signing one of his most notable victories of the season after one hour and 42 minutes of play. Martínez exhibited absolute coolness in moments of pressure, saving all seven breaking balls faced to achieve victory with his serve intact.

Pedro continues his good moment on clay, where he has accumulated a balance of 9-2 at all levels in the 2024 season. After reaching the semifinals of the ATP 250 in Santiago in February and lifting the sixth ATP Challenger Tour title of his career In Girona last week, Martínez comes seasoned with experience to the European clay tour.

His victory in Cascais was not just any victory. With the confidence on his shoulders to impose a good level in ATP Tour tournaments, the Spaniard began his path in Estoril by knocking down Jannik Sinner’s executioner in the last edition of Roland Garros, an important moral blow in a field full of challenges.

Martínez will play the second round of the Millennium Estoril Open against his compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut in a clash without secrets on clay. The Valencian dominates the Lexus ATP Head2Head history 1-0 over the Castellón native, whom he defeated on the clay of Kitzbühel 2021 on the way to the first ATP Tour final of his career.

The week in Estoril can have an important weight considering the Paris 2024 Olympic event on the horizon. As No. 72 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Martínez is currently No. 4 in Spanish tennis in individual mode and could compete this week for the third national place with his compatriot Jaume Munar, present on the clay of the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech.

Did you know…?
Pedro Martínez is seeking this week the second ATP Tour title in individual mode of his sporting career. The Spaniard, who has achieved greater stability on clay, lifted the Movistar Chile Open de Santiago trophy in the 2022 season (d. Báez).