Daniil Medvedev continued to live up to the top-seed billing at the Halle Open overcoming Ilya Ivashka to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The Russian delivered 10 aces to seal a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over the Belarusian.
The first set proved to be a challenge for the top seed with a tiebreak needed before he cruised through the second set.
Medvedev next faces seventh-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut after the Spaniard posted a 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-2 victory over Netherlands qualifier Tallon Griekspoor thanks to 16 aces.
Eighth-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov beat Serbia’s Laslo Djere 7-6 (4), 6-4, and will take on Germany’s Oscar Otte in the quarterfinal, who rallied for a 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (3) triumph over Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia.
Daniil Medvedev has uncharacteristically struggled on grass courts and with him being banned from Wimbledon, Halle Open may be his best shot at a grass-court crown.
But with Nick Kyrgios, Felix Auger Aliassime, and Hubert Hurkacz still in the mix, it may prove to be more difficult than many assume.
Over at the Cinch Championships in England, Second-seeded Matteo Berrettini blasted 22 aces while rallying for a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over lucky loser Denis Kudla to reach the quarterfinals in London.
The Italian was outplayed in the first set and then delivered nine aces in each of the final two sets to overcome the American.
Berrettini had to work for his win, saving seven of nine break points while Kudla saved five of seven
Berrettini will next play Tommy Paul, who rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.
Paul converted a staggering 74.3 percent of his first-serve points and won the match in just 65 minutes against the three-time major winner.
Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic recorded a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over qualifier Sam Querrey and will next face Brit wild card Ryan Peniston, who outlasted Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 6-0, 4-6, 6-4.
