Alejandro Davidovich has booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Championships. The Málaga-born player made a solid start with a 6–4, 7–5 victory over Australia’s Adam Walton in a match lasting one hour and 28 minutes, confirming the strong form he brought to Santa Ponça after reaching the quarter-finals at Queen’s.The tournament’s second seed will face the winner of the match between Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov and Jordan’s Abdullah Shelbayh on Thursday for a place in the semi-finals.

The Spaniard delivered a composed performance from start to finish against an opponent brimming with confidence after knocking out Nick Kyrgios. Davidovich dropped just three points on serve in the first set and capitalised on his second break point to take control of the match. In the second set, he maintained his composure and sealed victory on his fourth break-point opportunity.

“The first match isn’t always easy. He had already played here and probably felt more comfortable on the court than I did. I’d been training very well, feeling good and striking the ball well. I knew it was going to be hot and I had to accept that. We’ve done some good physical work over the past few weeks and I’m feeling really good,” said the Málaga-born player after the match.

Davidovich highlighted his physical condition as one of the key factors behind his victory. “It was very hot and I was taking it point by point. Trusting my fitness is what secured the win,” he said after booking his place in the quarter-finals.

Having reached the last eight at Queen’s, he has now repeated the feat in Mallorca. “I’m feeling good and happy with the level I’m playing at. I’ll see what happens, without any expectations. Grass is unpredictable and I’m looking forward to continuing to compete,” he added.

Davidovich also played down his status as the tournament’s second seed. “When I was younger, I perhaps felt more pressure because of it, but now you realise that tennis is very competitive. Seeds and even Top 10 players can go out in the first round. I see tennis differently now,” he said.

When asked about his chances of winning his first ATP title at Mallorca Country Club, he remained cautious. “There are opportunities every week. You have to be mentally and physically strong and focused on every match, without getting carried away,” he concluded, before turning his attention to his next challenge.