In the red group, Alexander Blockx116th, world, dismissed the American Nishesh Basavareddy (ATP 167), both 20 years old, in three sets: 4-3 (7/2), 4-3 (10/8) and 4-1. He saved 3 set points in the second set. The game ended after 1 hour and 20 minutes of play. The matches are played as a best of five sets played in four winning games, with no advantage and with reduced rest time.
The 20-year-old from Antwerp had dismissed the German the day before Justin Engel (ATP 187), 18 years old, in four sets: 3-4 (7/9), 4-2, 4-2, 4-2 while Basavareddy got rid of the Croatian Dino Prizmic (ATP 128), 20 ans.
The young Belgian, former world number 1 among juniors, must still face the Croatian on Friday. This one beat Engel Thursday 4-1, 2-4, 4-3 (7/3) and 4-1.
“I’m very happy to be in the semi-final already after two matches. It takes a little pressure off for tomorrow’s match. That doesn’t mean I won’t give it my all tomorrow. I will try to win every match I play. Especially against Dino who is my biggest rival here. He’s not qualified yet, so he’ll have more to play for than me. So I’m going to try to make it as difficult as possible for him.”explains Alexander at a press conference.
In the blue group there is notably the American Learner Tien (ATP 28), seeded N.1 in the absence of the two favorites, the Czech Jakub Mensik (ATP 19) and the Brazilian Joao Fonseca (ATP 24), winner last year. The Norwegian Nikolai Budkov (ATP 136) as well as the Spanish Martin Landaluce (ATP 134) et Rafael Jodar (ATP 168) complete the poster.
The top two from each group qualify for the semi-finals.
