FLORENCE, September 26, 2019
Top seed Philipp Kohlschreiber booked his spot in the quarterfinals of the Firenze Tennis Cup Trofeo Toscana Aeroporti following a three-set win over No. 16 seed Alessandro Giannessi of Italy on Thursday.
After a slow start, the World No. 80 from Germany capitalized on four of his 16 break point chances to secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in two hours and 19 minutes.
“I knew it would be an even match and I would have to raise my level. I didn’t play too well in the first set, but then I really showed some good tennis,” Kohlschreiber said. The 35-year-old from Augsburg, who lifted eight trophies on the ATP Tour, is playing his third consecutive ATP Challenger event of the season.
“I had a lot of physical problems this year, especially with my back. I have rarely played at 100 per cent. Now I am happy to be finally back at competitive level. If you lose many matches, you will lose confidence and and there are also many strong players at Challenger level. It’s not easy to win your matches. From here to the end of the year I will try to win as many matches as possible. I am very motivated, as Florence is really a good tournament.”
Asked about his goals for the future, Kohlschreiber said: “I would like to play the Tokyo Olympics next year. Moreover I aim to reach 500 match wins on the ATP Tour. I am very close (currently 465 match wins). I would also like to win some other ATP tournaments, maybe in Germany.”
Next up for Kohlschreiber in Florence will be Raul Brancaccio of Italy, who rallied past young Spaniard Carlos Taberner 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 after two hours and 35 minutes.
Kimmer Coppejans and Pedro Sousa will join Kohlschreiber in the stage of the final eight as two more seeded players left in the singles draw of the €46,600 ATP Challenger clay-court event. No. 15 seeded Coppejans from Belgium needed to go the distance to outlast Stefano Napolitano of Italy 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. He will next take on No. 7 seeded Sousa from Portugal, who fought past Italy’s Federico Gaio by the score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
