Daniel Gimeno-Traver will be hoping to triumph in front of home fans when he plays Jeremy Chardy in the Madrid Challenger final.
Gimeno-Traver is looking to continue his recent fine form and claim the Madrid title. The Spaniard won the Seville title a few weeks ago and he's looking to pick up another crown after taking out top seed and world number 61 Rui Machado 6-1, 6-4 in the semi-finals.
The slow clay of Madrid suited Machado down to the ground but Gimeno-Traver was striking the ball immaculately and getting forward and using his volleying ability to shorten the points. Ultimately his ability to get cheap points particularly on serve, paid dividends.
If he can maintain that form he will be strong favourite against fifth seed Chardy. The Frenchman has enjoyed some fine results at the French Open in the past but he's fallen from grace over the past year and hence finds himself back in the murky depths of the challenger tour.
Gimeno-Traver leads 3-2 on the head-to-head winning the last two in 2010, 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-3 on the clay of Stuttgart and 4-6, 6-2, 6-0, 7-6(2) in the second round of the US Open.
Prediction: Gimeno-Traver in three.
