thiago monteiro – Foto: instagram @thiagomonteiro94
Ignacio Buse, ranked 112th globally, solidified his strong form by defeating Thiago Monteiro in straight sets, 7-6(7), 6-4, in the round of 16 at the ATP Challenger in Lisbon, held at Estádio CIF. The match, lasting 2 hours and 5 minutes, marked a revenge for the Peruvian after a prior loss to the Brazilian.
The 21-year-old, Peru’s top player, now boasts nine consecutive Challenger circuit wins. Buse climbed to 111th in the ATP live ranking following the victory.
Recent run boosts confidence
Buse entered the Portuguese tournament on a high from a semifinal in Aix-en-Provence, where he ousted top-50 player Luciano Darderi. In July, he reached his first ATP main draw semifinal at the Swiss Open, defeating fifth seed Laslo Djere.
In the Santiago Challenger in March, he made the semifinals but lost to Monteiro. This time, the Peruvian corrected past mistakes and showed consistency in returns.
- Nine straight Challenger victories;
- First recent win over a top-100 player;
- 40-position ranking jump in May.
El peruano Ignacio Buse (116 ATP) venció al brasileño Thiago Monteiro (177 ATP), por 7-6(7) y 6-4, para acceder a los cuartos de final del Challenger de Lisboa🇵🇹. El nacido en Lima, que lleva 9 triunfos seguidos, jugará contra Marco Trungelliti🇦🇷 en busca de las semis. pic.twitter.com/7bsbZ8ChK9
— Tennis Info 24/7 (@Tenisinfo247) September 25, 2025
Monteiro fights but succumbs to pressure
Thiago Monteiro, 30 and ranked 177th, aimed to regain form after an inconsistent season. The Brazilian, a former top-60 player, won three matches to reach the Lisbon round of 16, including tough battles against South American opponents.
In the first set, Monteiro pressured with 73% of points won on first serve but squandered opportunities. Buse converted 2 of 6 break points, while the Brazilian saved only 1 of 2.
The match showcased the Peruvian’s resilience, saving two set points in the opening tie-break, one on Monteiro’s serve.
Stats reveal tight contest
The match saw close numbers, with Buse edging out 83 total points to Monteiro’s 81. The Peruvian won 71% of first-serve points, slightly better than Monteiro’s 66%.
Monteiro led in aces with two to Buse’s none but committed four double faults to Buse’s two. On second serve, the Brazilian won 74% of points but allowed critical breaks.
Buse excelled in return, earning 31 points on Monteiro’s serve compared to the Brazilian’s 17. The Peruvian secured 13 games to Monteiro’s 10.
Next challenge tests consistency
Buse now faces Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti, ranked 143rd, in the quarterfinals in a first-time matchup. Trungelliti advanced by defeating local players in the tournament.
The winner earns a semifinal spot and crucial points toward the top 100. Buse, with a 5-7 record on clay this year, aims for his best 100-point Challenger result.
Monteiro shifts focus to the South American circuit, seeking to rebuild confidence after the defeat.
