THREE of the four quarter finals at Hamburg European Open went the way of the underdog, with four seeds all bundled out at the quarter finals stage. The biggest name to fall was tournament favourite and number one seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who went down to sixth seed Filip Krajinovic in three sets.

The Greek talent won the first set 6-3, but then the Serbian hit back with some inspired tennis to take out the match in one hour and 59 minutes, 3-6 6-1 6-3. Krajinovic weathered 11 aces to win 76 and 57 per cent of his first and second serves off a 64 per cent clip, eclipsing Tsitsipas’ effort of 65 and 41 per cent. The Serbian sixth seed broke five times to two and won 69 and 44 per cent of his service and return points to the top seed’s 56 and 31 per cent.

“He started really well, really aggressively,” Krajinovic said. “I could not find my game, could not find my serve, he was overpowering me. “But at the end of the first set, I started to feel better, I was going for my shots. It paid off in the end. I am happy to beat Tsitsipas, he is an amazing player.

“I always play well here, and I hope I keep playing well here. “[Laslo] Djere is an amazing player, so it is going to be a tight match next. It is going to be an interesting [match] tomorrow.”

Now a Serbian is guaranteed in the Hamburg final after Krajinovic’s compatriot Laslo Djere made light work of third seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, 6-2 6-2. The third Serbian on court was not as fortunate, with fifth seed Dusan Lajovic going down to second seed Pablo Carreno Busta in a tight two-setter, 7-6 6-3. Carreno Busta will take on Argentina’s Federico Delbonis in the other semi-final after Delbonis took care of Benoit Paire in a come-from-behind win, 4-6 7-6 6-4.

In Sweden, the four quarter finals were completed on the clay with unseeded Federica Coria causing the big upset set, knocking out second seed Cristian Garin in three sets. The Argentinian won 6-4 4-6 6-2 to advance through to the semi-finals, leading top seed Casper Ruud as the sole seed in the last four after a walkover against Switzerland’s Herni Laaksonen. Qualifier Laaksonen was joined on the exits by fellow qualifier Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech who suffered defeat at the hands of German Yannick Hanfmann. The unseeded German won 6-4 6-3 to book a final four spot, with the other winner being Roberto Carballes Baena who knocked off Slovakian Norbet Gombos, 6-4 6-2.

In the third tournament, the two remaining quarter finals were completed with a mixed bag for the United States. Unseeded Jenson Brooksby continued his run with a dominant 6-0 6-3 victory over Peter Gojowczyk, whilst compatriot Maxime Cressy suffered a loss to seventh seed Jordan Thompson, 6-3 7-6.

HAMBURG EUROPEAN OPEN QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[6] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) defeated [1] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 3-6 6-1 6-3
[2] Pablo Carreno Busta (SRB) defeated [5] Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 7-6 6-3
Laslo Djere (SRB) defeated [3] Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-2 6-2
Federico Delbonis (ARG) defeated [8] Benoit Paire (FRA) 4-6 7-6 6-4

HALL OF FAME OPEN QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[7] Jordan Thompson (AUS) defeated Maxime Cressy (USA) 6-3 7-6
Jenson Brooksby (USA) defeated Peter Gojowczyk (GER) 6-0 6-3

NORDEA OPEN QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[1] Casper Ruud (NOR) defeated [Q] Henri Laaksonen (SUI) W/O
Federico Coria (ARG) defeated [2] Cristian Garin (CHI) 6-4 4-6 6-2
Yannick Hanfmann (GER) defeated [Q] Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 6-4 6-3
Roberto Carballes Baena (GER) defeated Norbert Gombos (SVK) 6-4 6-2

Picture credit: ATP Tour