RA’ANANA, March 31, 2016

The three top-seeds headlined Thursday’s second round action at the $125,000 Israel Open in Ra’anana. The tournament’s number one Evgeny Donskoy battled past fellow Russian Daniil Mededev 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. The world number 82 from Moscow capitalized on three of the 13 break point chances to advance after one hour and 47 minutes. Donskoy will meet eighth seed Marco Chiudinelli in the quarterfinals, who defeated Frederik Nielsen from Denmark 6-3, 6-2 in 67 minutes.

Second seed and local hero Dudi Sela beat Blaz Rola for the first time in the pair’s second tour meeting. The world number 84 from Israel won 70% of his first service points and 54% of the total points to prevail in one hour and 26 minutes. Sela will play compatriot Amir Weintraub next, who upset seventh favourite Marsel Ilhan, rallying 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 in one hour and 46 minutes.

The tournament’s number three Ricardas Berankis also made it to the stage of the final eight, but benefited from the retirement of Deny Molchanov, leading 6-1, 2-1 after 46 minutes. Berankis will take on Konstantin Kravchuk next. The sixth seed from Russia ousted Andrea Arnaboldi 7-6, 6-3, saving the only break point he faced. Kravchuk gained one break of his own to seal victory in one hour and 55 minutes.

In the remaining quarterfinals encounter, Ti Chen, who ended the winning streak of Italian qualifier Gianluigi Quinzi through a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win, will face fifth seed Thomas Fabbiano, who took out Roberto Marcora 7-5, 6-1 after 68 minutes.