ECKENTAL, November 4, 2016
Quarterfinals Friday of the €35,000 Bauer Watertechnology Cup saw two upsets taking place inside the House of Sports in Eckental, as top seeded German Florian Mayer fell to Franko Skugor in three sets. In the pair’s third meeting, the 29-year-old from Croatia could celebrate his first win over the world number 52, firing 10 aces and breaking serve three times to seal a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory in one hour and 36 minutes.
Earlier the day, Australian teenager Alex De Minaur knocked out Austrian veteran Jürgen Melzer, winning 4-6, 7-6, 6-4. The 17-year-old Sydney native won 72 per cent of his first service points and 98 of the 198 total points played to advance to the semi-finals in just under two hours of play. Earlier the week, De Minaur battled through the qualfying and claimed his very first main draw match wins on the ATP Challenger Tour.
“It’s been an unbelievable experience. It’s my first time playing on carpet and I obviously really enjoy it because I’ve played my best five matches of the year,” told De Minaur during the week. “I’ve been playing great tennis. I didn’t focus on what my opponent was ranked. I just went out there to play my tennis and it ended up working out really well. I’m very happy and just taking it all in at the moment.”
Krawietz To Face Darcis
Kevin Krawietz beat Daniil Medvedev – photo: Bertram Wagner
Kevin Krawietz will be another surprise contender to appear in the stage of the final four on Saturday. The 24-year-old German made it to the main draw as lucky loser and took out second seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, rallying 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes.
“I didn’t serve well in the opening set and didn’t feel comfortable on the court but I eventually found my rhythm in the second set,” told Krawietz, who could become the second lucky loser to take the title in Eckental after Ernests Gulbis triumphed in 2006.
In his only second semi-final at Challenger level after San Benedetto in July this year, Krawietz will face Steve Darcis from Belgium. The fifth favourite eased past Germany’s Matthias Bachinger 6-4, 6-2 in 64 minutes.
