HAMBURG, July 13, 2016
The top half of the German Open Tennis Championships’ draw was in second round action on Wednesday in Hamburg.
In the pair’s first tour meeting, top seed Philipp Kohlschreiber rallied back from a set down to overcome Nicolas Kicker 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. The world number 22 from Germany needed some time to find his rhythm but eventually won 80% of his first service points and broke the Argentine’s serve six times to prevail in one hour and 51 minutes.
“I like to play under pressure,” Kohlschreiber stated after his battle.
Kohlschreiber will next face with Renzo Olivo the third player from Argentina in a row this week. The 24-year-old from Rosario ousted compatriot Máximo Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 31 minutes to reach his first quarterfinal on ATP 500-level.
In another all-South-American-affair Pablo Cuevas gained his third win over qualifier Thiago Monteiro this season. The third seed from Uruguay beat the Brazilian en-route to back-to-back titles at Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in February. In Hamburg, Cuevas saved the only break point he faced, converting four of his own to secure victory in one hour and 17 minutes.
Cuevas will take on Paul-Henri Mathieu next, who knocked out sixth seed Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 in the final match on centre court. Although the Spaniard won seven points more than the Frenchman, it was Mathieu, who withstood 16 aces to advance in two hours and 49 minutes.
