Fifth seed Tallon Giekspoor edged past three-time champion Richard Gasquet 6-3 3-6 7-5 to reach the quarter final at the Occitainie Open in Montpellier.
Griekspoor saved two break points in the fifth game before converting his third break point in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Gasquet broke serve in the sixth game to win the second set 6-3.
Griekspoor saved six break points in the third set, including four at 4-4, that would have allowed Gasquet to serve for the match. Griekspoor broke Gasquet in the 12th game to seal the third set 7-5.
“I don’t know how I got away with that. I guess I was little bit lucky there. A lot of second serves there as well. It went my way. I am happy with the win and I am happy to get another chance to come back tomorrow”,said Griekspoor.
World number 131 Jesper De Jong beat Flavio Cobolli 6-3 7-6 (7-2) in 1 hour and 23 minutes to reach an ATP Tour quarter final for the first time in his career.
De Jong converted his second break point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead and held on his next three service games to win the first set 6-3 after 39 minutes.
Cobolli earned an early break at deuce in the first game of the second set, but De Jong broke straight back in the second game to draw level to 1-1. Cobolli broke in the fourth game before saving three break points in the seventh game to take a 5-2 lead. Cobolli earned a set point, but De Jong saved it with a serve and volley in the eighth game before breaking back to draw level to 5-5. The tie-break started with four consecutive mini-breaks. De Jong reeled off five mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2.
US qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic battled past Mattia Bellucci 7-5 7-6 (7-5) to set up a quarter final match against defending champion Alexander Bublik. Both players went on serve until the 12th game where Kovacevic earned his first break to win the opening set 7-5. Kovacevic and Bellucci held on their serve until the tie-break. Kovacevic earned his only mini-break to win the tie-break 7-5.