Gastão Elias is through to the second round of the Estoril Open after beating Learner Tien 5-7, 7-5, 6-4. The 34-year-old Portuguese player fought back from a set down to claim his first main draw win of the tournament since 2017.
A Nail-Biter on Clay
The match was a thrilling encounter, with Tien, ranked 69th in the world, taking the first set in a closely contested tie. Elias struggled to hold his serve, but Tien capitalized on his chances, breaking him in the final game to avoid a tiebreaker.
The second set was a dramatic turnaround, with seven breaks of serve shared between the two players. Elias ultimately prevailed, breaking Tien in the final game to seal the set 7-5. Despite having opportunities to close out the set earlier, Elias redeemed himself in the end.
The third set mirrored the first, with both players holding their serve until 5-4. Elias seized the chance to break Tien and wrapped up the win on his first match point.
What’s Next for Elias?
Elias’s next opponent could be fellow Portuguese player Henrique Rocha, provided he defeats Nicolás Jarry on Wednesday. The win marks a significant milestone for Elias, who hasn’t triumphed in the main draw of this tournament since 2017.
FANTASTIC WIN!
Gastão Elias gets one of his best wins in years to beat NextGen superstar Learner Tien 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 and reach the second round!
Our first main draw win of the week and Elias’ first in this tournament since 2017! pic.twitter.com/C6Y3Lr2lOk
— Millennium #EstorilOpen (@EstorilOpen) April 29, 2025
You can smile, @GastaoElias.
What a win! pic.twitter.com/Rwgo6AbU0H
— Millennium #EstorilOpen (@EstorilOpen) April 29, 2025