SCHWIEBERDINGEN, January 12, 2017

The top seeds of the $15,000 Südwestbank Tennis Grand Prix found their way into the quarterfinals on Thursday. After a difficult opening match, the tournament’s number one Petr Michnev had to fight hard again. The 27-year-old emerged victorious from the all-Czech-affair with David Polja, winning 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Michnev sent down nine aces and won 87 per cent of his first service points to prevail in one hour and 50 minutes. The World No. 285 will next take on Isak Arvidsson. The eighth seed from Sweden eased past Latvian qualifier Janis Podzus 6-1, 6-2 in only 57 minutes.

Second favourite Dzmitry Zhyrmont defeated German wild card Hendrik Jebens 7-5, 6-4. The 27-year-old from Belarus, who clinched two ITF Future titles last year, withstood 13 aces, hitting seven of his own to set up a quarterfinal clash with fifth seed Oscar Otte after one hour and 39 minutes. Germany’s former national champion saw off fellow countryman Jakob Sude 7-6, 6-3.

Zhyrmont will be joined in the stage of the final eight by his compatriot Yaraslau Shyla. The fourth seed edged past Dominik Boehler from Germany 6-3, 7-6. Next up for the 23-year-old from Minsk will be Neil Pauffley, who knocked out the tournament’s number seven Tobias Simon from Germany, winning 6-4, 6-2.

In the fourth quarterfinal third seed Evgeny Karlovskiy from Russia will face German Jan Choinski. The latter upset sixth seeded Patrik Rosenholm from Sweden, winning 6-2, 6-2 in only 62 minutes.