POPRAD TATRY, June 17, 2015
On Day 3 of the inaugural edition of the ATP Challenger in Poprad Tatry, three of the remaining four seeds booked a place in the quarterfinals.
The tournament’s eighth seed Uladzimir Ignatik beat the only Spaniard in the draw Pere Riba, winning 6-2, 7-6, 6-3. The world number 225 from Minsk, who reached at least the round of the final-four in the last four events he competed, converted six of his 14 break points to seal victory in two hours and 35 minutes.
Pere Riba
The Belarussian will meet Hans Podlipnik-Castillo in the quarterfinals. The world number 199 from Chile, who knocked out top-seed Blaz Kavcic on Tuesday, beat Peter Vajda winning 6-4, 6-0. The 19-year-old Slovakian wild card, nephew of Marian Vajda gained his first ever 8 ATP ranking points through a victory over Djordje Djokovic on Monday, lost after 66 minutes.
Peter Vajda
Hans Podlipnik-Castillo
The tournament’s number five Norbert Gombos extended his winning streak on the ATP Challenger Tour to seven match wins. Before coming to Poprad, the world number 127 claimed his second Challenger title in Prague, and advanced to second round on home soil beating Dennis Novak in the opening round in straight sets. On Wednesday, he had to rally back from a set down, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 against fellow countryman Andrej Martin. Gombos capitalized on five of his 18 break points to close the all-Slovakian-affair after two hours and nine minutes.
Andrej Martin
Norbert Gombos
The 24-year-old from Bratislava will take on Peter Torebko in the quarterfinals. The 27-year-old German emerged victorious from the longest match of the day beating Marek Michalicka after two hours and 46 minutes.
Fourth seed Andre Ghem cruised past Filip Horansky for the second time in their second tour meeting, winning 6-2, 6-1. The 33-year-old Brazilian capitalized on his fifth break point converting his first match point after only 52 minutes. Ghem will meet Antonio Veic in the quarterfinals. The world number 236 from Croatia defeated sixth seed Gerald Melzer 7-6, 6-3 in one hour and 37 minutes.
Andre Ghem
20-year-old Adam Pavlasek defeated sole Italian in the draw Riccardo Bellotti, winning 6-3, 7-6 in one hour and 21 minutes to set and all-Czech-quarterfinal against Jan Satral. The qualifier, who claimed his second ITF Future title in Most two weeks ago, beat Fabiano De Paula through a 6-4, 6-3 victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
