Hubert Hurkacz did not brush aside Briton Jack Draper without some difficulty. The Pole needed three sets, as Draper kept pace for a long time. Dominic Thiem was relentless against our compatriot Michael Geerts, despite an evenly matched first set. Belgian doubles duo Gillé/Vliegen are eliminated after a close loss.
Hubert Hurkacz (ATP-11) advanced to the quarterfinals. This was not without struggle as Jack Draper (ATP-48) sold his skin dearly. In a very even first set, a tiebreak had to bring the decision: 7-6(5). In the second set Hurkacz started best, but Draper went at it and over it: 3-4. Both players maintained their serve games, so again a tiebreak had to bring the decision. Draper got off to the best start (1-5). The first set head remained icily calm and came back to 4-5, but then aimed into the net. The second set ball was the good one for Draper: 6-7(5). In the decisive set, Hurkacz immediately pushed through to 3-0. Draper did not recover this deficit: 6-1 was the final score.
Sander Gillé (ATP D-58) and Joran Vliegen (ATP D-77) fell just short of stunting against second set leaders Matwe Middelkoop (ATP D-25) and Rohan Bopanna (ATP D-20). The Belgians took a flying start and climbed to a 3-0 lead. They continued that line and took the first set 6-3. In the second set, the Belgian duo took the lead again (4-1), but Bopanna and Middelkoop battled back, and it became 6- 7(5). In the matchtiebreak, Bopanna started very strongly, and it was soon 0-6. Gillé and Vliegen were still able to mitigate, but in vain: 4-10.
The other Belgian in action today, Michael Geerts (ATP-268), has been eliminated. He lost in two sets to grand slam winner Dominic Thiem (ATP-132). Both players were evenly matched in the first set and recorded some great services. At 4-5, Geerts had to serve to stay in the set, but a foot fault gave Thiem two break points. The Austrian took this with both hands and pocketed the first set: 4-6.
Thiem appeared to be launched and with a 0-1 lead and a lovebreak, the tone was set. With some fantastic strokes, Geerts could never get back into his game. 0-6 was on the board rather quickly, the match lasted 1 hour and 9 minutes. A duel with Argentinian sixth-series head Francisco Cerundolo (ATP-28) will follow in the next round for the Austrian.
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