LUGANO/STARNBERG, March 25, 2021

Daniel Masur, who clinched his maiden ATP Challenger crown in Biella, Italy last week, continued his good run of by reaching the quarterfinals of the €44,820 Challenger Citta di Lugano in southern Switzerland on Thursday. The 26-year-old rallied from a set down to overcome Hiroki Moriya of Japan, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Masur sent down eight aces and won 80 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 42 minutes.

“Very though match today against an opponent, who tried a lot and fought hard,” Masur wrote on his official Facebook page. “Didn’t take my chances in the first set, got broken right away and then I had to go the full distance. Luckily I could raise my level from that point on and now trough to the quarterfinal.”

Up next for the World No. 213 Tutzing resident will be 18-year-old Dominic Stephan Stricker of Switzerland, winner of the 2020 Roland Garros Junior Championships in singles and doubles.

To listen to our Challenger Corner Podcast with Daniel Masur after his triumph in Biella (in German), please click here.

Safiullin, Sachko advance

In other action in Lugano, No. 6 seed Roman Safiullin defeated US-American alternate Jack Sock 6-4, 6-3. The 23-year-old Russian converted three of his four break-point chances to advance in 63 minutes.

Safiullin will next take on Vitaliy Sachko. The qualifier emerged victorious from the all-Ukrainian affair with Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6-3, 6-1. Sachko saved both break points faced and capitalized on four of his own break-point opportunities to prevail after 66 minutes.AT

Altug Celikbilek benefited from the retirement of Austria’s Lucas Miedler, leading 4-1 in the first set. The World No. 273 from Turkey will play Frenchman Hugo Grenier in the stage of the final eight.