Cristian Garin made a statement on Thursday evening as he began his pursuit of a first ATP Tour title on home soil by blitzing countryman Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Chile Dove Men+Care Open for the second consecutive year.
“It wasn’t easy. I was very nervous,” Garin said in an on-court interview. “I’m very happy to be playing at home, playing like this. It’s not easy to play against someone from your country, I’m very happy to be in the next round.”
Garin’s clash against Tabilo was the first all-Chilean tour-level match since 2010. The World No. 22 saved the two break points he faced and broke his countryman’s serve four times.
“Honestly, I just want to keep playing like this. Today I think I played a very solid match. I served pretty well,” Garin said. “I’m very happy how it went today. I just want to go match by match. Tomorrow I have a very tough match as well.”
Garin will next play first-time ATP Tour quarter-finalist Juan Pablo Varillas. The Peruvian qualifier upset seventh seed Federico Coria 6-4, 7-6(2).
Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena played a solid match to oust Cordoba champion Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 6-0, earning a quarter-final clash against Daniel Elahi Galan. The Colombian beat third seed Pablo Andujar 6-1, 7-6(7).
Did You Know?
The Chile Dove Men+Care Open and its partner, Carozzi, are donating 10 pasta meals to charity for every ace hit at this week’s tournament in a campaign called ACE X10. The meals will go to Nuestra Casa, Casa Familia and Coaniquem, children’s organisations in Chile.
Garin hit more aces than any player on Thursday with eight. The most in a match so far this week came on Monday when Nicolas Jarry struck 29.