CHAMPAIGN, November 20, 2015

The two top-seeds crashed out on Thursday at the US-$ 50,000 JSM Challenger in Champaign. Taylor Fritz cruised past the tournament’s number one Malek Jaziri, winning 6-1, 6-2 in only 64 minutes. The 18-year-old US-American saved all of the five break points he faced, converting four of his own to reach the semi-finals.

Fritz will take on fellow countryman and qualifier Mackenzie McDonald, who emerged victorious from the all-US-American-affair with Mitchell Krueger. McDonald won 77% of his first service points and broke his opponent’s serve four times to prevail in one hour and 10 minutes.

With Clay Thompson another qualifier advanced to the stage of the final four, beating second seed Austin Krajicek 4-6,7-5, 6-3. The world number 603 from Venice Beach fired 18 aces and won 77% of his first service points to finish the match after one hour and 48 minutes. In his very first semi-final on the ATP Challenger Tour, Thompson will face Henri Laaksonen. The 23-year-old Swiss rallied back from a set down, winning 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 against Eric Quigley in one hour and 23 minutes.