RENNES/STARNBERG, September 16, 2022
Dominic Thiem has booked his spot in the quarterfinals of the Open Blot Rennes. The 29-year-old wild card entry from Austria defeated Ryan Peniston of Great Britain, No. 5 seed of the €67,960 ATP Challenger Tour hard-court event, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday evening.
Thiem struck seven aces and won 74 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 36 minutes.
Note to self: Play it cool when you meet @domithiem 😊 #ATPChallenger | @OpenBlotRennes pic.twitter.com/hNs8xsI3hf
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 15, 2022
“These matches help me to find my rhythm,” said Thiem, who rallied past French veteran Gilles Simon in three sets in the opening round. “It’s better than to play against a player who has a very big serve. Ryan and Gilles play more from the baseline. I’m happy with my first two matches here. Two wins against very good opponents. And I hope to continue like this tomorrow.”
The World No. 216 will next take on Bulgarian Adrian Andreev, who knocked out third-seeded Frenchman Hugo Grenier 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in two hours and 38 minutes.
No. 2 seed Peter Gojowczyk also advanced to the stage of the last eight in Brittany. The 172nd-ranked German battled past his compatriot Daniel Masur 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the pair’s first meeting in a main draw. Gojowczyk broke his rival four times to secure victory in one hour and 47 minutes and will next face Gregoire Barrere of France. The sixth favourite beat his fellow countryman Evan Furness 7-6(2), 6-4. The encounter lasted one hour and 37 minutes.
In an all-French affair, Benoit Paire overpowered Clement Tabur 6-3, 6-3. The No. 7 seed capitalized on all of his six break-point opportunities to finish the match after one hour and five minutes. Paire will next challenge top seed Hugo Gaston for a place in the semi-finals.
