TIBURON, September 27, 2019
Three of the top eight seeds advanced to the quarterfinals of the First Republic Tiburon Challenger. Tommy Paul, the No. 1 seed of the $108,320 hard-court event, edged past Hugo Gaston of France 7-6(8), 6-1 on a sunny and hot Thursday afternoon in California.
The 22-yaer-old US-American converted three of his six break point chances to prevail after one hour and 11 minutes. Up next for Paul will be Gonzalo Escobar from Ecuador, who knocked off the tournament’s No. 5 Mikael Torpegaard from Denmark by the score of 6-4, 7-6(9) in one hour and 37 minutes.
Later in the day, Emilio Gomez booked his spot in the stage of the final eight with a hard-fought three-set win over US-American Ernesto Escobedo. The No. 4 seed from Ecuador withstood 12 aces and won four points more than his opponent to secured 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 victory in two hours and 11 minutes. Gomez will next play Sekou Bangoura from the United States, who beat 2016 champion Darian King from Barbados after a slow start 1-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Thanasi Kokkinakis fought past Enzo Couacaud of France 7-5, 6-1. The 23-year-old Australian sent down nine aces and won 96 per cent of his first-service points to set a quarterfinal match with No. 16 seeded US-American Maxime Cressy.
✔️ Comeback complete@thaikwiatkowski pulls off the comeback of the week @TiburonChallngr, storming from a set and two breaks down to reach the QF. pic.twitter.com/N9pY7vscX2
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 27, 2019
Thursday, September 26, RESULTS
Men’s Singles, Third Round
[1] T. Paul (USA) d. H. Gaston (FRA) 76(8) 61
[14] T. Kwiatkowski (USA) d. [3] M. Giron (USA) 46 76(3) 64
[4] E. Gomez (ECU) d. [15] E. Escobedo (USA) 76(4) 26 62
G. Escobar (ECU) d. [5] M. Torpegaard (DEN) 64 76(9)
S. Bangoura (USA) d. [7] D. King (BAR) 16 64 60
[8] T. Kokkinakis (AUS) d. [9] E. Couacaud (FRA) 75 61
[WC] B. Nakashima (USA) d. [10] C. Eubanks (USA) 76(5) 75
[16] M. Cressy (USA) d. R. Quiroz (ECU) 57 62 63
Men’s Doubles, Quarterfinal
[PR] N. Pasha (USA)/M. Schnur (USA) d. J. Cerretani (USA)/M. Cressy (USA) 63 64
[2] A. Lawson (USA)/J. Withrow (USA) d. C. Eubanks (USA)/M. Krueger (USA) 64 76(5)
Men’s Doubles, First Round
[1] M. Arevalo (ESA)/H. Reese (USA) d. [WC] S. Bangoura (USA)/E. King (USA) 63 64
J. Fruttero (USA)/D. Kudla (USA) d. [WC] H. Johnson (USA)/Y. Johnson (USA) 36 64 10-7
