GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI, August 14, 2024
The quarterfinals of the Kozerki Open are set. Top seed Vit Kopriva ended the run of Polish qualifier Filip Peliwo, winning his second-round match of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court event 6-3, 7-5 on Wednesday.
The World No. 132 from the Czech Republic capitalized on five of his 11 break-point chances and won 56 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 27 minutes.
Up next for Kopriva will be Slovakian qualifier Norbert Gombos, who saved three match points at 5-6 in the third set to outlast Frenchman Benoit Paire 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3).
Manuel Guinard of France defeated Michael Geerts from Belgium 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 14 minutes and will next take on Hazem Naw of Syria, who benefited from the retirement of Ukrainian Vadym Ursu. Naw was leading 6-0, 5-1 when Ursu was forced to stop playing.
All-French and all-Swiss battles in the quarterfinals
In the bottom half of the draw, Antoine Escoffier edged out Adolfo Daniel Vallejo from Paraguay 6-4, 6-0. The No. 8 seed sent down six aces and won 83 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and five minutes.
“It’s my first time here,” Escoffier told Tennis TourTalk. “I arrived only one day ahead of my first match, as I played Bundesliga in Germany. The facility here is great. Everything is in waking distance and the weather is good. So we have perfect conditions to compete here.”
Escoffier, who captured his maiden title on the ATP Challenger Tour at the Open Castilla y Leon El Espinar last month, will next oppose his compatriot Laurent Lokoli. The 29-year-old qualifier beat Alberto Barroso Campos from Spain 6-3, 7-5 in one hour and 53 minutes.
Two Swiss players remained untroubled in their second-round encounters, as No. 4 seed Dominic Stricker defeated Mark Lajal of Estonia 6-4, 6-0 in 67 minutes and No. 6 seed Marc-Andrea Huesler eased past British qualifier Ocar Weightman 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and 16 minutes.
Stricker lookin’ sharp 🤺@DominicStricker heads into the QFs 6-4 6-0 🆚 Lajal#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/JLuN6ve4ek
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 14, 2024
