MILAN, June 25, 2016

The clay court players have gathered this week at the Harbour Club Milano for the 11th edition of the Aspria Tennis Cup. Four seeds were in quarterfinals action at the €42,500 ATP Challenger event on Friday.

In the top half of the draw, the tournament’s number four Carlos Berlocq defeated Miljan Zekic 7-6, 6-4. The world number 101 from Argentina won 73% of his first service points and converted three of his seven break point chances to advance in two hours and nine minutes. With this win, he will now gain a direct entry into the US-Open.

“I have achieved one of my main goals for this season. I feel that I can still play a bit better, so I continue to work hard in order to reach my top-form,” told Berlocq, who triumphed at the ATP Challenger in Blois last Sunday.

He will next take on fifth seed and last Italian standing Marco Cecchinato. The 23-year-old from Palermo gained a comfortabel 6-3, 6-2 victory over Arthur de Greef without facing a break point. Cecchinato secured victory in 69 minutes.

In the bottom half, Daniel Gimeno-Traver knocked out the second favourite Gastao Elias, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The world number 173 from Spain saved 11 of the 13 break points he faced, capitalizing on four of his own to finish the encounter after two hours and 11 minutes.

Gimeno-Traver will next meet Laslo Djere. The 21-year-old from Serbia ousted Italian wild card Matteo Donati 6-2, 7-6. Djere sent down seven aces, winning 74% of his first service points to seal victory in one hour and 41 minutes.