NUSSLOCH, January 26, 2017

Thursday became a tough day in the office for the top seeds at $25,000 MLP Cup, held at the Racket Center in Nussloch. The number two of the 14th edition of the ITF Pro Circuit event, Laurynas Grigelis, lost his second round match to Jan Choinski from Germany 6-4, 7-5. The World No. 265 from Lithuania lost his serve three times and Choinski won 67 of the total 125 points played to advance in one hour and 21 minutes. The 20-year-old German will next play Alexey Vatutin from Russia.

With Eduardo Struvay from Colombia, the tournament’s third seed, also fell before the quarterfinals, as Robin Kern from Germany celebrated a 7-6, 7-5 victory after two hours and two minutes.

Top seed Daniel Masur, who entered the tournament with a wild card, also had to fight hard but eventually emerged victorious from his battle with Vadym Ursu from the Ukraine, rallying 4-6, 6-3 ,6-3. The World No. 232 from Germany sent down six aces and won 67 per cent of his first service points to prevail after two hours and four minutes. Masur will next play fellow German Oscar Otte, who benefited from the retirement of eighth favourite Yann Marti of Switzerland.