HAMBURG, July 14, 2016
With the bottom half of the draw in Thursday action, the quarterfinals of the German Open Tennis Championships in Hamburg are set.
Seventh seed Martin Klizan ended the successful run of Germany’s top-ranking junior Louis Wessels, who stunned Canadian qualifier Steve Diez on his ATP World Tour debut in the first round. The world number 47 from Slovakia saved all of the four break points he faced, converting five of his own to seal victory in only 50 minutes.
“The opponent was still out of my league,” told Wessels. “But I can learn a lot from such matches.” By reaching the second round at the Rothenbaum, the 17-year-old German will gain his first ATP ranking position on Monday.
“I’m very happy, especially to come back from injury to make the quarter-finals for the first time [at the ATP World Tour 500-level] since Rotterdam,” said Klizan. “I feel very good and I look forward to playing tomorrow.”
Klizan will next face Daniel Gimeno-Traver. The 30-year-old Spaniard fought past Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 in the longest match of the day, lasting three hours and seven minutes.
“Tough battle today but luckily with a win in the end. Now recovering and tomororrow another fight,” the Spaniard wrote on twitter.
Dura batalla hoy que por suerte acabo en victoria,a recuperar y mañana a luchar otra vez. pic.twitter.com/QATkOZaleq
— Daniel Gimeno Traver (@dani_gimeno) 14. Juli 2016
The tournament’s number eight Guillermo Garcia-López advanced to the stage of the final eight with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Grega Zemlja. The world number 56 from Spain sent down three aces, winning 69% of his first service points to prevail in one hour and 13 minutes.
Garcia-López will play Stephane Robert in the quarterfinals. The French veteran overcame Braunschweig runner-up Inigo Cervantes 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 in two hours and 12 minutes.
