Maden Marches Closer To First Challenger Title

Yannick Maden (photo: Koblenz Open)

KOBLENZ, February 20, 2020

After two hard-fought victories in the previous round, the top two seeds of the Koblenz Open advanced to the quarterfinals by winning in straight sets. Yannick Maden, the tournament’s No. 1, eased past Turkish lucky loser Ergi Kirkin 6-3, 6-0 on Thursday afternoon.

The 30-year-old German, who overcame his compatriot Louis Wessels in three sets on Tuesday in search of winning his maiden title on the ATP Challenger Tour, converted six of his 10 break point chances to prevail after 68 minutes. Maden will next face No. 6 seed Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands, who defeated Maximilian Marterer of Germany 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hour of play.

No. 2 seed Yannick Hanfmann, who had to go the distance in his opening match against Michael Vrbensky from the Czech Republic, ended the good run of Indian qualifier Sasikumar Mukund. The World No. 149 from Germany struck five aces and won 73 per cent of his first-service points to secure a 7-5, 6-4 victory in one hour and 39 minutes.

Up next for Hanfmann will be 2017 Koblenz Open champion Ruben Bemelmans. The 32-year-old Belgian beat No. 7 seeded Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-2, 6-4. The encounter lasted 63 minutes.

RESULTS – FEBRUARY 20, 2020
Men’s
Singles –
Third Round
[1] Y. Maden (GER) d [LL] E. Kirkin (TUR) 63 60
[2] Y. Hanfmann (GER) d [Q] S. Mukund (IND) 75 64
[13] D. Masur (GER) d [3] T. Griekspoor (NED) 57 63 61
[6] B. Van de Zandschulp (NED) d M. Marterer (GER) 64 62
[12] R. Bemelmans (BEL) d [7] Q. Halys (FRA) 62 64
D. Kuzmanov (BUL) d [10] D. Brown (GER) 46 63 64
[11] N. Kuhn (ESP) d M. Basic (BIH) 64 76(4)
T. Machac (CZE) d V. Kopriva (CZE) 63 63

Men’s
Doubles –
Quarterfinals
R. Bemelmans (BEL) / D. Masur (GER) d [2] [WC] A. Sancic (CRO) / T. Weissborn (AUT) 57 75 10-5
J. Lenz (GER) / Y. Maden (GER) d [4] R. Arneodo (MON) / Q. Halys (FRA) 64 62
First Round
[1] S. Arends (NED) / D. Pel (NED) d V. Kopriva (CZE) / V. Safranek (CZE) 64 62
T. Griekspoor (NED) / B. Van de Zandschulp (NED) d D. Added (FRA) / M. Eriksson (SWE) 76(3) 62