TULLN/STARNBERG, September 8, 2021
Local wild card entry Filip Misolic backed up his first Top 100 win against Marco Cecchinato yesterday by reaching the quarterfinals of the NÖ Open powered by EVN in Tulln, Austria. The 20-year-old from Graz fought past Czech youngster Jonas Forejtek 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon.
In his second match on the ATP Challenger Tour, Misolic, a winner of four trophies on the ITF World Tennis Tour this season, sent down four aces and won 73 per cent of his first-service points to advance after two hours and 11 minutes.
“The tournament here is very nice, the fans really give me a lot of energy,” Misolic said. “The city is also very beautiful. This is my first time here and I enjoy every day a bit of time at the Danube River.”
Up next for the World No. 539 will be No. 8 seed Hugo Gaston of France, who eased past Sebastian Ofner of Austria 6-1, 6-4 in exactly one hour of play.
Further information: “Challenger Corner” Episode (in German/March 2021) with Filip Misolic can be found here.
Vesely, Novak advance
In other action, the favourites of the €101,798 clay-court tournament booked their spot in the stage of the last eight. No. 2 seed Jiri Vesely remained untroubled during his 6-1, 6-1 victory over Frenchman Geoffrey Blancaneaux. The World No. 90 from the Czech Republic capitalized on six of his 11 break-point chances to succeed after one hour and 16 minutes. Vesely will next take on No. 7 seed Dennis Novak from Austria, who rallied past Belarusian qualifier Uladzimir Ignatik 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 after one hour and 47 minutes.
“The beginning yesterday was bumpy, because he (Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves) played well, but also because I felt the five-week tournament break and I was a bit nervous,” said Novak. “Today it was completely gone and I really felt at home on the court, also because of the atmosphere here in Tulln, which is really great. Compliments to the organizers, a really successful premiere.”
No. 3 seeded Brazilian Thiago Monteiro defeated Czech veteran Lukas Rosol 7-6(6), 6-1 to set a quarterfinal clash with big-serving Mats Moraing of Germany. Kamil Majchrzak won the fastest match of the day. The No. 4 seed from Poland cruised past Jiri Lehecka from the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-0 in only 50 minutes. Marchrzak will next face Marc-Andrea Huesler of Switzerland.
