STOCKHOLM, October 20, 2016

Thursday’s schedule featured six second-round singles matches at the If Stockholm Open, with top two seeds Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov leading the charge for a quarterfinal spot. The tournament’s number one and 2011 champion from France fell to Gastao Elias, losing 6-7, 1-6. The world number 61 from Portugal saved all of the four break points he faced, capitalizing on two of his own to reach the stage of the final eight for the fourth time this season. The encounter lasted 79 minutes.

Gastao Elias (photo: Brigitte Urban)

“It was a good day,” said Elias, who leapt into the air dramatically after taking match point. “I told someone before the match that I would [celebrate like Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring a goal] if I won.

“It’s the best match I’ve ever played. I knew I could play at this level and compete with the top guys, and this is what I showed today. It’s difficult to play at this level every match, but this is what we practise for.”

Next up for Elias will be Jack Sock. The 24-year-old US-Amercian beat Dustin Brown 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 in one hour and 56 minutes.

Grigor Dimitrov

In their first tour meeting, Dimitrov eased past Jurgen Zopp of Estonia, winning 6-3, 6-2. The world number 18 from Bulgaria, who is on a hot streak going into the end of this season that has included a run to the ATP World Tour 500 final in Beijing, saved all of the four break points he faced, converting three of his own to finish the encounter in one hour and 12 minutes.

Dimitrov will take on Kevin Anderson next. The big serving South African defeated US-American qualifier Ryan Harrison 7-6, 6-4. Andersen sent down six aces, saving the only break point he faced to advance in one hour and 45 minutes.

Elsewhere, Tobias Kamke set a quartefinal clash with fellow German Alexander Zverev, winning 7-6, 6-3 over Radu Albot from Moldova. The 30-year-old qualifier from Lübeck won 61 per cent of his first as well as second service points to secure victory in two hours and one minute.