HAMBURG, July 28, 2017
Two Germans and two Argentines will compete in Saturday’s semi-finals of the German Open Tennis Championships in Hamburg with no seeded players left in the singles draw.
Philipp Kohlschreiber survived a topsy-turvy encounter with Argentina’s Nicolas Kicker. The 33-year-old German won 52 per cent of the total points played to secure a 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 victory in two hours and 36 minutes. Kohlschreiber beat Kicker in the round 16 in Hamburg last year and advanced to his second semi-final in the Hansecatic City after 2014.
“Nicolas is a very good player, pretty quick on his feet and having a good drive in his shots. It was another tough fight today,” Kohschreiber told. “I was more aggressive in the end and I am really happy to be in the semis. I really enjoy playing on my home field. The kind of pressure that I have to perform well, I like it. It helps lift my game.”
Kohlschreiber will be joined by Florian Mayer, who edged past sixth favourite Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. The Bayreuth native saved three of the seven break points he faced, converting five of his own to finish the encounter after one hour and 43 minutes.
It will be the first all-German-semi-final Am Rothenbaum since Michael Stich defeated Boris Becker 6-1, 6-1 in 1992. Kohlschreiber is leading 3-1 in head-to-head records. The World No. 58 also won their last match in Munich 2016.
All Argentine-Semi-Final
Federico Delbonis
Federico Delbonis has ended Karen Khachanov‘s chances for a second Russian #NextGenATP win in two weeks after Andrey Rublev triumphed in Umag last Sunday. The 26-year-old from Azul hit 19 forehand winners and won one point more than his opponent to prevail after two hours and 17 minutes.
Delbonis will next take on fellow Argentine and 2014 Hamburg champion Leonardo Mayer. The World No. 138 gained his fifth win over Jiri Vesely from the Czech Republic in the pair’s sixth tour meeting. Mayer, who entered the main draw as lucky loser after Martin Klizan had been forced to withdraw due to injury, sent down six aces and broke serve four times to advance in one hour and 41 minutes.
Mayer is leading 2-1 over Delbonis in head-to-head records. Delbonis, however, won their last meeting in the qualifying of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo in 2012.
