RENNES, October 12, 2015

Sixth seed Marsel Ilhan battled back from a set down to advance at 10th edition of the € 85,000 ATP Challenger Open de Rennes, defeating French wild card Enzo Couacaud 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. The 28-year-old Turkish won 71% of his first service points and capitalized on four of his nine break point chances to prevail in one hour and 52 minutes. It was Ilhan’s second win within two weeks over the world number 459 from France, following his victory in the opening round in Orleans last Tuesday.

“It was a tough match. Enzo is a good player. We met last week and it was a similar match today,” told Ilhan afterwards who is going to take on the winner of the encounter between Jonathan Eysseric and John-Patrick Smith.

Enzo Couacaud (photo: Maxime Baron)

Seventh seed Ivan Dodig defeated Artem Smirnov, winning 6-2, 6-3. The world number 30 from Croatia smashed seven aces and saved the only break point he faced to close the match after one hour and 11 minutes. In the second round Dodig will play the winner of the encounter between French lucky loser Sebastien Boltz and Marius Copil.

In the final match of the day, another French wild card Maxime Teixeira knocked out top seed Robin Haase, winning 6-2, 6-2. The world number 287 from Paris saved the only two break points he faced and converted four of his own to seal victory in 79 minutes.

“I am really happy and confident now. I go out on court without any pressure and told myself that I can win. I also had a good physical preparation and all of it seems to pay off,” Teixeira told afterwards facing the winner of the match between Karen Khachanov and Calvin Hemery next.