NUSSLOCH, January 27, 2017

The semi-finals are set at the $25,000 MLP Cup in Nussloch with three local players making their way into the stage of the final four. The tournament’s number one Daniel Masur got tested again in his quarterfinal encounter on Friday against Germany’s former national champion Oscar Otte.

Masur fired 15 aces and capitalized on three of his 11 break point chances to secure a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory in one hour and 46 minutes. The World No. 232 will next take on Marvin Netuschil, who defeated seventh seed Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 35 minutes. It will be the pair’s first meeting in a main draw.

Masur and Netuschil will be joined by fellow German Mats Moraing in the semis. The 24-year-old eased past Robin Kern, winning 6-4, 6-2 in only 63 minutes. Next up for Moraing will be Alexey Vatutin from Russia. The fifth favourite of the ITF Pro Circuit event was also in cruise mode, beating Jan Choinski from Germany 6-0, 6-3 in just under one hour of play. Moraing and Vatutin will face each other for the third time. Each player had won one of the previous encounters.