Khachanov Advances In Hamburg As Seeds Fall
Karen Khachanov, who continues to grow in maturity and confidence as the leading Russian in the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, kept his nerve to overcome Aljaz Bedene 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 27 minutes.
The World No. 32, who is positioned ahead of compatriots and Next Gen ATP Finals contenders Daniil Medvedev (No. 48) and Andrey Rublev (No. 49), is through to his fifth ATP World Tour quarter-final (or better) this year, highlighted by a semi-final run to the Gerry Weber Open (l. to Federer). The third seed goes on to face Federico Delbonis, who earned a comeback win earlier in the day.
Qualifier Delbonis, who has a liking for the Rothenbaum, venue of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament, having reached the 2013 final (d. Federer in SFs, l. to Fognini in final), battled back to knock out the experienced David Ferrer.
Delbonis trailed eighth seed and 2014 runner-up Ferrer 1-5 in the first set, and saved two set points at 4-5, in a 7-5, 6-3 win over one hour and 45 minutes for a place in his second ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season (also Sao Paulo). It was his first win in four matches against Ferrer, who lifted his 27th tour-level trophy on Sunday at the SkiStar Swedish Open (d. Dolgopolov).
“I have very good memories of the club in Hamburg,” said Delbonis. “It’s amazing to be back at a place to restore my confidence. I tried to keep battling at 1-5 in the first set, changing my game and slowing down the rallies. It was very fast at the beginning. I kept adopting the same tactic in the second set.”
Another seed casualty was fifth seed Benoit Paire, who lost to Nicolas Kicker 6-4, 7-6(7). Paire could not convert one set point opportunity at 7/6 in the second set tie-break. Kicker awaits German Philipp Kohlschreiber, who saved 10 of 13 break points to beat fourth seed and 2011 champion Gilles Simon 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and two minutes.
“I'm very happy, very pleased. I knew it was going to be tough. He's a big fighter. He's a great defending player on the court with great footwork. We had some good rallies, good points. I've very happy with my performance,” Kohlschreiber said.
Argentina's Leonardo Mayer, the 2014 champion, continued to take advantage of his lucky loser status, beating Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals. Mayer saved both break points faced and won 72 per cent (42/58) of his service points.
Source: http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/khachanov-simon-hamburg-2017-thursday
The World No. 32, who is positioned ahead of compatriots and Next Gen ATP Finals contenders Daniil Medvedev (No. 48) and Andrey Rublev (No. 49), is through to his fifth ATP World Tour quarter-final (or better) this year, highlighted by a semi-final run to the Gerry Weber Open (l. to Federer). The third seed goes on to face Federico Delbonis, who earned a comeback win earlier in the day.
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| Karen Khachanov reaches the German Tennis Championships 2017 quarter-finals on Thursday in Hamburg. |
Delbonis trailed eighth seed and 2014 runner-up Ferrer 1-5 in the first set, and saved two set points at 4-5, in a 7-5, 6-3 win over one hour and 45 minutes for a place in his second ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season (also Sao Paulo). It was his first win in four matches against Ferrer, who lifted his 27th tour-level trophy on Sunday at the SkiStar Swedish Open (d. Dolgopolov).
“I have very good memories of the club in Hamburg,” said Delbonis. “It’s amazing to be back at a place to restore my confidence. I tried to keep battling at 1-5 in the first set, changing my game and slowing down the rallies. It was very fast at the beginning. I kept adopting the same tactic in the second set.”
Another seed casualty was fifth seed Benoit Paire, who lost to Nicolas Kicker 6-4, 7-6(7). Paire could not convert one set point opportunity at 7/6 in the second set tie-break. Kicker awaits German Philipp Kohlschreiber, who saved 10 of 13 break points to beat fourth seed and 2011 champion Gilles Simon 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and two minutes.
“I'm very happy, very pleased. I knew it was going to be tough. He's a big fighter. He's a great defending player on the court with great footwork. We had some good rallies, good points. I've very happy with my performance,” Kohlschreiber said.
Argentina's Leonardo Mayer, the 2014 champion, continued to take advantage of his lucky loser status, beating Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals. Mayer saved both break points faced and won 72 per cent (42/58) of his service points.
Source: http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/khachanov-simon-hamburg-2017-thursday
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