Challenger
Giron saves 4 MPs; Quinn celebrates birthday with win at Phoenix Challenger
Hurkacz falls in Cap Cana
March 13, 2026
SMASHLAB
Marcos Giron in action at the Arizona Tennis Classic on Thursday.
By ATP Staff
Americans Marcos Giron and Ethan Quinn took contrasting paths to the quarter-finals Thursday at the Arizona Tennis Classic, an ATP Challenger 175 event in Phoenix.
Giron dramatically fended off four match points to down qualifier Jay Friend 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(9) while Quinn raced past Michael Mmoh 6-1, 6-3 to celebrate his 22nd birthday in style.
“My girlfriend put this ‘Happy Birthday’ [sign] and my mom made a ‘Happy Birthday’ in the hotel,” said Quinn, who is seeded eighth in Phoenix. “We had to celebrate a little bit for at least the first 10 minutes of this morning.”
A birthday treat in Phoenix for Ethan Quinn 🥳🎂#ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/cMmE2zMbTA
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 13, 2026
The seventh seed Giron trailed 3/6 in the deciding-set tie-break against the University of Arizona senior Friend. After saving three consecutive match points, Giron fended off another one at 7/8 before winning four of the next five points. Giron will next face another stern test in two-time champion Nuno Borges. The No. 49 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Borges overcame James Duckworth 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
“I guess it took me a little bit to find my rhythm, put more returns in,” Borges said. “He served pretty well and made my life very hard from the start. I feel like I grew with the match as it went on, stayed well physically and I think that made a big difference for me, just to stay available and keep pushing and wait for my opportunity.”
Top seed Corentin Moutet cruised past fellow Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-4. Billy Harris ended the run of American teenager Darwin Blanch with a 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(6) victory after two hours and 50 minutes. Third seed Adrian Mannarino beat Blaise Bicknell 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-2.
Hurkacz upset in Cap Cana, Kecmanovic & Blockx advance
Former World No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz was upset in his first ATP Challenger match in seven years. The Pole, who underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery in July, fell to Italian Mattia Bellucci 6-2, 6-4 at the Republica Dominicana Open – Copa Cap Cana.
“I knew it was going to be tough from the beginning because I knew he was going to put a lot of pressure on me, especially with his strengths, his serve and his backhand,” Bellucci said of Hurkacz.
Into the quarter-finals, Bellucci will face fifth seed Raphael Collignon, who beat Luca Van Assche 7-5, 6-4.
Top seed Miomir Kecmanovic began his campaign with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over American Mackenzie McDonald. Alexander Blockx, 2025 finalist at the Next Gen ATP Finals, survived Dalibor Svrcina 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3 after two hours and 57 minutes.
Second seed Valentin Royer was a 6-4, 7-6(5) winner over Tour-veteran Roberto Bautista Agut and sixth seed Mariano Navone beat Shintaro Mochizuki 6-4, 7-5.
🔥 Blockx 🔥🌴
The Belgian battles past Svrcina 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3 for a quarter-final spot #ATPChallenger | Cap Cana🇩🇴 pic.twitter.com/nS8kjCtT05
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 12, 2026
