NUSSLOCH, January 29, 2016

Three of the top four-seeds made their way into the semi-finals of the $25,000 MLP Cup, held at the Racket Center in Nussloch.

The tournament’s number one Nils Langer dropped his first set during the week but rallied back, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-3  over Alexey Vatutin. The 26-year-old German lost his service twice but smashed 10 aces and converted four of his own seven break points to prevail in one hour and 58 minutes.

Langer will face third seed Uladzimir Ignatik next. The world number 228 from Belarus was efficient in the decisive moments of his quarterfinal match against 19-year-old German Johannes Haerteis. Ignatik broke his opponent’s serve four times and won 80% of his first service points to seal victory in one hour and 22 minutes. Langer and the Minsk native will meet for the third time on the tour with Ignatik leading 2-0 in head to head records. The last encounter between the two took place in Shenzhen in 2015. The German is still waiting to win his first set.

Maximilian Marterer

Niels Desein, seeded on seventh position in Nussloch, defeated Mats Moraing 6-3, 6-4. The 28-year-old Belgian gained a comfortable victory without facing a break point in 73 minutes. Desein will take on fourth favourite Maximilian Marterer in the semis. The 20-year-old German knocked out eigthth seed Marek Michalika, winning 7-6, 6-4. Marterer hit eight aces capitalized on all of his five break point chances to prevail in one hour and 38 minutes. Desein and Marterer will meet for the first time.