HAMBURG, October 19, 2023
The quarterfinals of the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup ATP Challenger Tour event is set. Australian qualifier Akira Santillan continued his fine run of form this week in Northern Germany by knocking out home favourite Marvin Moeller 6-4, 7-5 on Thursday.
The 26-year-old was a break down in both sets but fought his way back into the match twice. Santillan won 55 per cent of the total points played to succeed in one hour and 31 minutes.
“I remained calm today, even if I didn’t agree with some of the umpire’s decisions. That helped me a lot,” said Santillan, who made his first visit to Europe in Hamburg at the age of seven. Although the Tokyo native is a regular at tournaments in Germany, this is his first time competing at the venue of the Hamburg Tennis Federation in Horn.
“The courts here are not too fast. I like that. I prefer to be active on the court, and when the balls don’t come back too quickly, I can adjust better,” the World No. 411 explained.
After the Neckarcup in Heilbronn in June, Santillan has reached the quarterfinals of an ATP Challenger tournament in Germany for the second time this season. “Especially in the summer, it’s very nice here. I practice regularly in Essen. The organizers of German tournaments are very hospitable and helpful to the players. The catering is excellent, and overall, there’s a very pleasant atmosphere at the tournaments. Yesterday, my girlfriend and I went shopping in the city, and it was nice.”
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Santillan will next take on French qualifier Tristan Lamasine, who defeated seventh-seeded Austrian Maximilian Neuchrist 7-5, 6-4 in exactly two hours of play.
Mate Valkusz of Hungary and Briton Billy Harris round out the final eight in Hamburg. No. 3 seed Valkusz rallied past Stefano Naplitano from Italy 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 28 minutes. Harris edged out Cem Ilkel of Turkey 7-6(4), 6-1. The encounter lasted one hour and 44 minutes.
THURSDAY RESULTS
Singles – Second Round[3] M. Valkusz (HUN) d S. Napolitano (ITA) 67(5) 64 64B. Harris (GBR) d [6] C. Ilkel (TUR) 76(4) 61[Q] T. Lamasine (FRA) d [7] M. Neuchrist (AUT) 75 64[Q] A. Santillan (AUS) d [WC] M. Moeller (GER) 64 75
Doubles – Quarterfinals[WC] J. Schnaitter (GER) / M. Wallner (GER) d [1] D. Added (FRA) / J. Paul (SUI) 46 75 10-7D. Novak (AUT) / A. Santillan (AUS) d [2] H. Reese (USA) / A. Walton (AUS) 61 76(3)[3] A. Jecan (ROU) / M. Veldheer (NED) d D. Masur (GER) / L. Wessels (GER) 62 57 10-5D. Istomin (UZB) / E. Karlovskiy d H. Habib (LIB) / P. Somani (IND) 64 76(6)
