IT might be true that you can teach an old dog new tricks, with 38-year old Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez winding back the clock on Day 3 of the ASB Classic. The former top 15 player is now ranked 61st in the world, but he showed world number 12, Fabio Fognini – a veteran on the tour himself at 32-years-old – that he is still a force to be reckoned with in 2019.

Remarkably, Lopez spent four hours and 24 minutes on court yesterday, forced to play two consecutive matches after rain delays hit the Classic on Day 2. He took two hours and 28 minutes to down countryman, Pablo Andujar 3-6 7-6 6-4, before also coming from behind against a well rest Fognini – who was yet to play at the tournament being the number one seed – 3-6 6-4 6-3 in an hour and 56 minutes. Over the two matches he served up 36 aces in a treat for spectators and moved through to the final eight in a year thought to be his last, but on-form he could keep going into his 40s.

The other shock on Day 3 with Australian John Millman‘s upset win over third seed, Karen Khachanov. Millman will always take advantage of an opponent with his consistency even if they have the extra class and shot play. He downed Khachanov 4-6 6-3 6-3 and did it through making the most of his serving consistency with 76 per cent of his first serve points won. He also converted four of six break point opportunities – making the most of his chances as he does each time out on court. It would be a bitter blow for the world number 16 Russian’s form heading into the Australian Open where he made a third round appearance last year.

Lopez was not the only player to have to face two opponents in one day, with Italian Andreas Seppi downing seventh seed Frenchman, Adrian Mannarino 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the first round, but fell to Brit, Kyle Edmund in straight sets, 6-3 7-6 in the second match. Fellow Italian, Marco Cecchinato downed Argentinian, Leonardo Mayer in the match of the tournament so far with three tiebreakers – including a mind-bogging 20-18 score in the second set tiebreaker – in a three hour and seven minute match. No doubt that took a look out of Cecchinato, and young Frenchman Ugo Humbert took full advantage of his fresh legs to knock out the Italian in straight sets, 6-1 6-4 in just 54 minutes.

All the other results went the way of the favourites with the four remaining seeds winning through to the quarter finals – three of which knocked over qualifiers to do so. In the battle of Canada, second seed Denis Shapovalov overcame Davis Cup teammate and qualifier, Vasek Pospisil 6-4 7-6, while south of the border, reigning champion Tennys Sandgren bowed out to United States’ countryman and fourth seed, John Isner 7-6 6-7 6-3 in a match that lasted more than two hours and broke Isner’s shaky start to the year with his first win of 2020. Meanwhile, fifth seed Benoit Paire saw off Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro, while sixth seed, Hubert Hurkacz defeated Swedish qualifier, Mikael Ymer in straight sets, 6-3 7-6.

The quarter finals takes place from 2pm in Auckland, with Isner taking on Edmund, before Humbert tries his luck against Shapovalov in the battle of young talents. The winner of those games will play in the semi-finals, as will the two winners from the other half of the draw which opened up with Millman’s and Lopez’s upsets, as the Australian faces Paire from 7pm, followed by Lopez tackling Hurkacz in the final match of the night.

Day 3 Results:

Round of 32:

Andreas Seppi (ITA) defeated [7] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 3-6 6-4 6-4
Marco Cecchinato (ITA) defeated Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 7-6 6-7 7-6
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) defeated Pablo Andujar (ESP) 3-6 7-6 6-4

Round of 16:

Feliciano Lopez (ESP) defeated [1] Fabio Fognini (ITA) 3-6 6-4 6-3
[2] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) defeated [Q] Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-4 7-6
John Millman (AUS) defeated [3] Karen Khachanov (RUS) 4-6 6-3 6-3
[4] John Isner (USA) defeated Tennys Sandgren (USA) 7-6 6-7 6-3
[5] Benoit Paire (FRA) defeated [Q] Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 4-6 6-4 6-3
[6] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) defeated [Q] Mikael Ymer (SWE) 6-2 7-6
Kyle Edmund (GBR) defeated Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-3 7-6
Ugo Humbert (FRA) defeated Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 6-1 6-4