RENNES, October 14, 2015

In the remaining first round matches at the € 85,000 ATP Challenger Open de Rennes fifth seed Filip Krajinovic defeated 18-year-old French wild card Maxime Janvier, winning 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday. The world number 92 from Serbia hit seven aces, lost his service only two times and gained four breaks to prevail in one hour and 37 minutes.

“Maxime is a tall guy, serving big but I took my chances today and I am happy with the victoy. Nonetheless, I didn’t play great tennis today. This is my first indoors tournament since coming from the clay and I still need to get used to the conditions. Every match is important for me and I try to play as many matches as possible here,” Krajinovic told afterwards and will take on Jan Mertl next, who beat Romain Barbosa 6-4, 6-3 in 69 minutes.

Eighth seed Illya Marchenko, who captured the Challenger title in Mons last Sunday, cruised past Maxime Authom in only 65 minutes. The world number 82 from the Ukraine fired six aces, winning 6-1, 6-3 to face Norbert Gombos in the second round. The 25-year-old Slovakian edged Andrea Arnaboldi 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 17 minutes.

Karen Khachanov advanced to the quarterfinals through a 6-3, 6-4 victory over French wild card Maxime Teixeira. The Russian teenager won 72% of his first service points and converted four of his ten break point chances to finish the match after one hour and 14 minutes.

The tournament’s number six Marsel Ilhan also made it to the round of the final eight, beating Jonathan Eysseric 6-2, 6-4. The world number 99 from Turkey saved the only break point he faced and capitalized on three of his own chances to seal victory in only 61 minutes.

In the final second round match of the day seventh seed Ivan Dodig edged Marius Copil 7-5, 7-6. The 30-year-old Croat smashed 11 aces and won 81% of his first service points to prevail in one hour and 50 minutes.

As a special guest former world number three and two time Grand Slam Champion Mary Pierce attended the tournament on Wednesday in order to introduce children from hospitals to the courts.

Mary Pierce