Bengaluru Open | Martinez shades Martineau in a see-saw semifinal

In Saturday’s summit clash, the World No. 96 will meet the sixth seed from Kazakhstan Timofey Skatov, who overcame France’s Harold Mayot 6-4, 6-3.”

Martinez and Martineau were involved in a topsy-turvy first set. It was the latter who drew first blood, breaking to 4-2 with a fine cross-court pass. But Martinez returned the favour in the very next game, bringing it back on serve with a cross-court backhand pass of his own.

At 3-4, Martinez’s serve came under pressure again, and he had to save a break-point from being 40-15 up. In the 11th game, it was the turn of Martineau’s serve to wobble, and the Frenchman had to dig deep to save two break-points to stay ahead 6-5.

That, however, was the last time the contest was a see-saw. Martinez, who was ranked as high as 36 in early 2025 and had wins over the likes of Holger Rune and Stan Wawrinka last season, lifted his level substantially.

Spain’s Pedro Martínez plays a shot against France’s Matteo Martineau, at the Bengaluru Open 2026 ATP Challenger Tour, in Bengaluru on January 09, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

He held easily to necessitate a tie-break, and once there, took it to four points. And within a blink of an eye, the Spaniard registered successive breaks in the second stanza – to 2-0 and 4-0.

He was particularly impressive in the way he transitioned to the forecourt during rallies, enabling him to kill many a point at the net.

The shots he executed to hold to 3-0 (down-the-line forehand on the run) and break to 4-0 (looping backhand down the line) showcased his all-round prowess. The winning hold came to 15 as he sealed his spot in the final with a clinical drop volley.

The results (semifinals): Pedro Martinez (Esp) bt Matteo Martineau (Fra) 7-6(4), 6-1, Timofey Skatov (Kaz) bt Harold Mayot (Fra) 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles: Arthur Reymond & Luca Sanchez (Fra) bt Sriram Balaji & Neil Oberleitner (Aut) 7-6(4), 7-6(3); Nicolas Barrientos (Col) & Benjamin Kittay (USA) bt Max Houkes & Niels Visker (Ned) 7-6(6), 6-3.