Pella Wins Final-Set Tie-break In Mallorca

Guido Pella earned his first grass-court win since 2019 Wimbledon on Sunday when he battled past Marcos Giron 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) to reach the second round of the Mallorca Championships.

“Of course it was very tough. I know I can play good on grass, but you have to get used to this surface. It’s not like clay or hard courts,” Pella said. “You have to practise, practise and practise, and this is my fourth day I think, so it was very tough.”

The Argentine lefty trailed by a break in the third set, but rallied to earn a second-round showdown against fourth seed Adrian Mannarino.

In other action, Corentin Moutet eliminated Christopher O’Connell 7-5, 6-4. The Frenchman will play eighth seed Roberto Carballes Baena or Ilya Ivashka. They were tied at one-set apiece before play was suspended for the evening in Mallorca.