ORTISEI/STARNBERG, November 12, 2021

The ATP Challenger Tour is back in South Tyrol for the 12th edition Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena Südtirol hosted by the Tennis Club Ortisei. The quarterfinal line-up of the €44,820 hard-court event is led by top seed Oscar Otte of Germany.

The World No. 125, who captured the title on home soil in Ismaning last month and is trying to strengthen his bid for a main draw spot at the 2022 Australian Open, booked his place in the stage of the final four with straight-set wins over Roberto Marcora of Italy and his compatriot Matthias Bachinger. On Friday, Otte will take on Ryan Peniston, who ousted No. 7 seed Marc-Andrea Huesler from Switzerland 7-6(3), 6-4.

Peniston will be joined in the quarterfinals by his fellow countryman Jack Draper, who will face Federico Giao. The No. 5 seed is the last Italian standing in the singles draw.

Second seed Maxime Cressy leads the bottom half of the draw. The World No. 128 from the United States defeated Roberto Quiroz of Ecuador 7-6(3), 6-4 on Thursday. Cressy fired 15 aces and won 82 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 28 minutes. Up next for Cressy will be Romanian Marius Copil, who beat qualifier Nerman Fatic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 7-6(1), 6-2.

In other action on Friday, Vitaliy Sachko from Ukraine will oppose Mirza Basic. The 30-year-old from Bosnia and Hezegovina has reached his fourth quarterfinal in Ortisei.