ANDRIA, November 24, 2017

Filippo Baldi emerged victorious from the battle of the Italian wild card entries to reach the semi-finals of the €43,000 Andria e Castel del Monte Challenger. The 21-year-old Milano native saved the only break point he faced, converting two of his own chances to seal a 6-4, 6-3 victory in one hour and seven minutes on Friday afternoon.

Baldi made it to the stage of the final four at ATP Challenger level and will next take on fifth seed Uladzimir Ignatik. The World No. 171 from Belarus defeated Franko Skugor of Croatia 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 19 minutes.

Mirza Basic remains the highest ranked player left in the singles draw. The third favourite from Bosnia and Herzegovina edged past Croat Viktor Galovic 6-4, 6-4. Basic struck 12 aces, winning 86 per cent of his first service points to finish the encounter in one hour and 11 minutes.

Basic will next face Belgian qualifier Christopher Heyman, who knocked out the tournament’s number five Zdenek Kolar from the Czech Republic 7-5, 7-6. The match lasted one hour and 24 minutes.