CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, August 4, 2016

The quarterfinals of the €42,500 ATP Challenger in Cortina are set, as the three remaining second round matches took place at the local Tennis Country Club on Thursday.

The tournament’s number three and highest seed left in the draw Facundo Bagnis fought past Mohamed Safwat 6-7, 6-4, 7-6. The world number 91 from Argentina sent down nine aces, saved all four break points he faced, converting one of his own. Bagnis won the tie-break of the final set to love, celebrating victory after two hours and 38 minutes.

Andrey Rublev emerged victorious from the battle of the youngsters with Italian wild card Lorenzo Sonego, winning 6-3, 7-5. The 18-year-old from Russia broke his opponent’s serve four times to finish the encounter in 76 minutes. Rublev will next play Laslo Djere. The 21-year-old from Serbia took out Italian veteran Filippo Volandri 7-5, 6-4. Djere sent down four aces, capitalizing on three of his six break point opportunities to reach the stage of the final eight after one hour and 36 minutes.

Bagnis will next take on Roberto Carballés-Baena. The fifth favourite from Spain dismissed Argentine qualifier Andrea Collarini 6-3, 7-6. Carballés-Baena won 73% of his first service points and 73 of the total 142 points played to advance in one hour and 40 minutes.

Matteo Donati has reached his third quarterfinal of the season, saving match points against Aslan Karatsev . The 21-year-old Italian, who finished runner-up to Paolo Lorenzi in the ATP Challenger final in Caltanissetta missing six points to claim his maiden title, withstood 12 aces, hitting seven of his own to prevail in two hours and 21 minutes. Next up for Donati will be Joao Souza. The Brazilian defeated French qualifier Calvin Hemery 6-2, 7-6 in one hour and 37 minutes.