The second of three APT mens Futures tournaments held in the Algarve in March saw Faro winner Benoit Paire narrowly beaten 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 by Spanish top seed Guillerme Alcaide in Sunday’s Lagos final.
This week the action has moved to Albufeira’s Monte Chorro complex, where Paire will again be the man to beat in Alcaide’s absence.
A strong Portuguese challenge is headed by Pedro Sousa and Gastao Elias while Britain is represented by lone qualifier Matthew Short.
Abroad, Rui Machado reached the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger in Rabat where he was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by Spanish world No110 Marcel Granollers, while both Frederico Gil and Michelle Brito lost in the first round of the Indian Wells Masters.
