IRVING, March 17, 2017

The ATP Challenger Tour has returned to Texas for the 2017 edition of the $150,000 BMW of Dallas Irving Tennis Classic, held at the Four Seasons Resort at Club at Las Colinas. Dustin Brown headlined Thursday’s second round action, rallying past fifth seed Borna Coric of Croatia 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The 32-year-old German fired 16 aces, winning 72 per cent of his first service points to prevail in one hour and 53 minutes. Brown will appear in his second quarterfinal of the season. He will next face US-American wild card Tim Smyczek, who beat Radu Albot from Moldova 6-3, 6-3. In the opening round, Albot had knocked out top seed and defending champion Marcel Granollers of Spain in three sets.

Karen Khachanov (photo: Tessa Kolodny)

Third favourite Karen Khachanov is the only seeded player left in the singles draw. The NextGen star from Russia battled past Lukas Lacko from Slovakia, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Khachanov converted four of his 10 break point chances to advance in one hour and 45 minutes to face Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinal.

Khachnov will be joined by fellow Russian Andrey Rublev. The qualifier downed German veteran Benjamin Becker, who entered the main draw with a wild card, 6-2, 6-4. Next up for Rublev will be Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, who upset the tournament’s number four Nikoloz Basilashvili from Georgia 6-2, 6-1 .

Aljaz Bedene saved two match points in the second set to overcome Thomaz Bellucci from Brazil, rallying 4-6, 7-6, 6-1. The World No. 105 of Great Britan eventually took the match the distance and finished the encounter after two hours and 38 minutes. Bedene will play Jared Donaldson in the stage of the final eight. The 20-year-old from California emerged victorious from the all-US-American-affair with teenager Frances Tiafoe, winning 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 in two hours and 13 minutes.