Qualifier Ramkumar Ramanathan of India scored one of the biggest upsets of the year on Tuesday at the Antalya Open, shocking top seed Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals.
“I just gave it my best and was serving well out there. Two or three points can often make the difference on grass,” said Ramanathan. “It’s a good start for my career, but it’s just a start. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
The World No. 222 in the Emirates ATP Rankings broke Thiem three times and won the last five games of the match to reach his second ATP World Tour quarter-final and score the biggest win of his career. Ramanathan had only played six ATP World Tour main draws prior to this week, with four coming at home in Chennai. He reached the quarter-finals there in 2016 and the second round in 2014. The Indian player also advanced to his first ATP Challenger Tour final this April in Tallahassee.
“It was a tough start to the year for me because I was one out (of the qualifying draw) for the Australian Open, so I went back home to train for a few weeks,” said Ramanathan. “I think that helped me a lot, though, and the Challengers that I played in the U.S. made me stronger. “
Thiem will head back to the drawing board after posting a 1-2 record on grass so far this year. He lost to Robin Haase last week in the second round at Halle.
Joining Ramanathan in the quarter-finals is third seed Fernando Verdasco, who scored a convincing 6-3, 6-4 win over Steve Darcis. He’ll play Adrian Mannarino in the last eight after the Frenchman defeated Egyptian qualifier Mohamed Safwat 6-4, 6-4.
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#NextGenATP German Daniel Altmaier recorded his first ATP World Tour main draw win by outlasting Victor Estrella Burgos in a marathon 7-5, 6-7(8), 7-6(5) match. Altmaier missed a match point opportunity at 8/7 in the second-set tie-break, but hung tough by rallying from 2/4 down in the deciding-set tie-break for the win.
“It’s the biggest win of my career. I can’t describe it,” said Altmaier. “I had to refocus after missing the match point, but I wanted to fight out there. I really enjoyed it.”
The 18 year old moved into the main draw as a lucky loser when fellow #NextGenATP player Hyeon Chung withdrew due to a left ankle injury. Altmaier, currently No. 252 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, qualified for his first ATP World Tour main draw last month in Geneva. He also reached the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger Tour event this January in Bangkok.
Next up for Altmaier is local favourite Marsel llhan, who advanced when Martin Klizan was forced to retire at 6-6 in the first set.
In other first-round matches, Janko Tipsarevic dismissed South African lucky loser Lloyd Harris 7-5, 6-3. Andreas Seppi moved on after defeating Polish qualifier Kamil Majchrzak 6-2, 7-6(1), while Marcos Baghdatis survived Carlos Berlocq 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
TOP SEEDS LINDSTEDT/QURESHI ADVANCE
Robert Lindstedt and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi moved past their first round by defeating Rogerio Dutra Silva and Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 7-6(1). Awaiting them in the quarter-finals are Nicholas Monroe and Artem Sitak.
Fourth seeds Leander Paes and Adil Shamasdin survived Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop 3-6, 7-5, 11-9. Next up for them in the last eight are Carlos Berlocq and Joao Sousa, who moved past Turkish wild cards Sarp Agabigun and Altug Celikbilek 6-3, 7-5.
Philipp Petzschner and Alexander Peya also moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 7-6(1) win over Marcus Daniell and Marcelo Demoliner. Petzschner/Peya will face Jonathan Erlich and Nikola Mektic, who prevailed over third seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Scott Lipsky 6-4, 6-4.
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