HAMBURG, October 21, 2022
The top two seeds of the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup ATP Challenger Tour tournament fell in the quarterfinals on Friday. French qualifier Matteo Martineau knocked out second favourite Jelle Sels from the Netherlands 7-6(6) 6-3 to reach the stage of the last four at this level for the first time.
Martineau, 23, saved the only break point he faced and capitalized on two of his own four break-point chances to secure victory in one hour and 38 minutes.
The moment 🇫🇷 Matteo Martineau reaches his first-ever Challenger semifinal!#ATPChallenger | @FFTennis pic.twitter.com/5lS3EdXua9
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 21, 2022
“I played five crazy matches. I am really happy and want to enjoy it,” Martineau said. “I like the tournament here. It’s very nice. We play ping pong all the time. The food is good, the people and the hotel is nice. I didn’t go to the city but we went to the circus next to the hotel and it was funny.”
The World No. 489, who has captured four titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour, will next take on Alexander Ritschard. The fourth-seeded Swiss rallied past Czech youngster Jonas Forejtek 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 12 minutes.
In the top half of the draw, Henri Laaksonen edged out top seed Gregoire Barrere of France. The fifth favourite from Switzerland sent down four aces and won 74 per cent of his first-service points to prevail 6-2, 6-4 after one hour and 10 minutes. Laaksonen will next face Dutch veteran Robin Haase, a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4) winner over German qualifier Julian Lenz. The encounter lasted two hours and 20 minutes.
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