Yannick Hanfmann in action at the Chengdu Open
(Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann overcame seventh seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4 3-6 6-3 to advance into the quarter finals of the Chengdu Open, an ATP Tour 250 level event held in China.
In a match lasting 109 minutes, the 32-year-old Hanfmann struck 26 winners past his French 21-year-old opponent, the Lyon champion, to reach the last eight of a hard court tournament for only the second time in his career.
“You have to be patient, that was the key to the match,” said Hanfmann, ranked 95, following his victory. “You’re not going to get a lot of chances to break him, he’s an amazing server.
But I thought I had great patience, and I used the chances when I had them, so I’m very happy with this performance.”
Three other players have also progressed to the quarter finals leaving the remaining spots to be filled on Saturday.
Russian qualifier, the 22-year-old Alibek Kachmazov, ranked 252, reached his first career quarter-final after defeating Japsan’sd Taro Daniel 7-6(1) 6-1 and will face Chile’s Nicolas Jarry for a place in the semis after the Chilean, seeded three, battled past Slovakia’s Lukas Klein 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4.
Finishing the day’s programme the fourth seeded Spaniard, Pedro Martinez beat Australia’s Alexander Vukic 6-3 6-3 to advance into the next round where Hanfmann awaits.
