WORLD number 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas had a good return to the court overnight progressing to the quarter finals at the Hamburg European Open, defeating German Dominik Koepfer in straight sets.

Having lost to American Frances Tiafoe in a disappointing first round exit at Wimbledon, the top ranked Greek was a little shaky early when he dropped the first serve of the match, however he was able to regain his composure to win a first set tie-break.

Koepfer fought hard throughout the match and led 3-2 in the second set before Tsitsipas broke serve twice to close out the set and win the tie 7-6 (7-2) 6-3. The match lasted one hour and 44 minutes in what was gruelling contest according to the top ranked seed.

“I think it’s fair to say that things were tricky today. I had an opponent who was willing to fight and give his best performance out there today.”

“Things worked out for me. At the end of the first set and towards the second set I think I started loosening up, and I felt more flexible in my game,” Tsitsipas said during his post-match interview on-court.

Tsitsipas will face Filip Krajinovic after the Serbian knocked out another German in Philipp Kohlschreiber during an intense three set battle. Krajinovic won 73 per cent of his first-service points (47/64) to defeat the wildcard 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 25 minutes.

Fellow Serbian Laslo Djere joins Krajinovic in the quarters after defeating Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild in straight sets. Nikoloz Basilashvili was handed a walkover against Sebastian Baez after the Argentinian was ruled out after testing positive to COVID-19.

In Sweden, Round of 16 action was underway for the Nordea open and unfortunately for Aussie John Millman he bowed out in a disappointing result against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. The qualifier defeated the fourth seeded Millman in three sets (6-3 3-6 6-3) and is looking at a quarter-final match up with Yannick Hanfmann who also caused an upset in a straight sets victory over seventh seed Jiri Vesely.

Federico Coria was victorious in three sets over Italian Marco Cecchinato. Coria will now face Cristian Garin in the final eight after the second seeded Chilean won 6-3 6-3 against Spaniard Pedro Martinez.

Over in the USA, the Hall of Fame Open continued in Newport with three locals winning through to the quarter finals. Maxime Cressy defeated fellow American and second seeded Sam Querrey 6-4 2-6 6-2, while countrymen Jenson Brooksby and Denis Kudla also battled it out over three sets. 20-year-old Brooksby came out on top as he aims to prove himself as a tough competitor on the ATP tour. Wildcard Jack Sock defeated number three seed Yoshihito Nishioka in an easy 6-2 6-3 win.

Kazakhstani Alexander Bublik, who is the number one seed at the tournament, had a close encounter with 42-year-old wildcard Ivo Karlovic, eventually overrunning his opponent in the third set to win 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-1. As Bublik said himself the match was a battle of “server against server”, with Bublik serving 22 aces to the Croatian’s 21.

The World No. 37 will now face Chinese Taipei’s Jason Jung who caused a big upset over local Tennys Sandgren, winning 6-2 6-2 in a demolition. Jung did not concede any of his service games and he won 82 per cent (32/39) of his first serve points.

In other results, seventh seed Jordan Thompson and eighth seed Kevin Anderson both won in straight set victories over Yuichi Sugita, and Sebastian Ofner respectively. While Peter Gojowczyk caused an upset over World No. 61 Vasek Pospisil, winning 6-3 6-3.

HAMBURG EUROPEAN OPEN ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[1] [WC] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeated Dominik Koepfer (GER) 7-6 (7-2) 6-3
[3] Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) defeated [LL] Sebastian Baez (ARG) W/O
[6] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) defeated [WC] Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 7-5 4-6 6-3
Laslo Djere (SRB) defeated [Q] Thiago Seyboth Wild (BRA) 7-6 (7-1) 6-1

NORDEA OPEN ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

Yannick Hanfmann (GER) defeated [7] Jiri Vesely (CZE) 6-4 6-3
[2] Cristian Garin (CHL) defeated Pedro Martinez (ESP) 6-3 6-3
[Q] Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) defeated [4] John Millman (AUS) 6-3 3-6 6-3
Federico Coria (ARG) defeated Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 4-6 6-4 6-3

HALL OF FAME OPEN ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

Maxime Cressy (USA) defeated [2] Sam Querrey (USA) 6-4 2-6 6-2
[1] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) defeated [WC] Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-1
[WC] Jack Sock (USA) defeated [3] Yoshihito Nishioka (JAP) 6-2 6-3
Peter Gojowczyk (GER) defeated [4] Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-3 6-3
Jason Jung (TPE) defeated [5] Tennys Sandgren (USA) 6-2 6-2
[7] Jordan Thompson (AUS) defeated Yuichi Sugita 6-0 6-2
[8] [WC] Kevin Anderson (RSA) defeated [Q] Sebastian Ofner (AUT) 7-5 7-6 (7-3)
Jenson Brooksby (USA) defeated Denis Kudla (USA) 6-3 4-6 7-5

Photo credit: REUTERS/Cathrin Mueller