COMO, August 31, 2016

Three seeds were in second round action at the €42,500 Torneo Città di Como on Wednesday. The number three of the ATP Challenger event Taro Daniel defeated Mohamed Safwat 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

The 23-year-old Japanese capitalized on eight of his 11 break point opportunities to prevail in two hours and 13 minutes. Daniel will next take on Nils Langer. The world number 252 from Germany ousted seventh favourite Albert Montanes, winning 7-6, 6-4. Langer won 72% of his first service points to secure victory in one hour and 43 minutes.

Centre Court Como – photo: Brigitte Urban

Sixth seed and champion of last week’s Internazionali di Tennis Manerbio Leonardo Mayer outlasted Maximilian Marterer, rallying from a set down 6-7, 6-2, 6-1. The world number 117 from Argentina sent down seven aces and broke his opponent’s serve five times to gain his second win over the German in as many meetings after two hours and four minutes.

He will next face Kenny de Schepper. In the longest match of the week so far and probably one of the most entertaining encounters, the 29-year-old Frenchman fought past Russian teenager Andrey Rublev 7-5, 4-6, 7-6. De Schepper fired nine aces, winning 76% of his first service points to book his place in the quarterfinals after two hours and 50 minutes.