BRAUNSCHWEIG, July 6, 2016
The quarterfinals are set at the €106,500 Sparkassen Open in Braunschweig with the tournament’s number one Thomaz Bellucci, winning his second round match over Croatian qualifier Mate Pavic 6-4, 6-3. The world number 62 from Brazil won 70% of his second return poitns and broke his opponent’s serve six times to advance in one hour and 14 minutes.
Bellucci will next face Nikoloz Basilashvili. The 24-year-old from Georgia knocked out eighth seed and Russian youngster Karen Khachanov, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. Basilashvili won 85% of his first service points and 54% of the total points played to prevail in exactly two hours.
Second favourite Inigo Cervantes also found his way into the stage of the final eight. The world number 75 from Spain eased past Axel Michon 6-1, 6-4. Cervantes sent down four aces and capitalized on four of his seven break point opportunities to finish the encounter in 69 minutes. Cervantes will next play Mischa Zverev, who beat seventh seed Facundo Bagnis 7-6, 2-6, 6-4.
Tobias Kamke emerged victorious from the all-German-affair, fighting past the tournament’s number three and Halle champion Florian Mayer. The 30-year-old from Lübeck saved eight of the 13 break points he faced, converting six of his own to reach the quarterfinals after two hours and four minutes.
“I am really happy with this win today. Conditions were not easy and it is always difficult to face Florian,” told Kamke, who wants to get back into the top 100. The current world number 134 had a difficult season last year, but has already captured one Challenger title in 2016, lifting the trophy in Kazan.
“I want to fight back, climbing up the rankings. A decent performance at this tournament here could help to meet my goal.”
Kamke will take on Radu Albot. The 26-year-old from Moldova beat German qualifier Cedric-Marcel Stebe 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 33 minutes. Kamke has already suffered two losses against Albot earlier this summer.
“Braunschweig could be the right place to take revenge,” Kamke is looking forward to the encounter, which is going to take place on Thursday as “Match of the Day”.
In the fourth quarterfinal Taro Daniel, who upset fourth seed Jan-Lennard Struff in three sets 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, will square off with Teymuraz Gabashvili. The 31-year-old Russian edged past Nils Langer 6-1, 7-5.
