Fabio Fognini got the better of Albert Ramos-Vinolas for the second time in as many weeks. The Italian extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head lead to 8-0 lifetime against the second seed with a 6-2, 6-2 victory on Friday for a place in the VTB Kremlin Cup semi-finals. Fognini, who also beat his Spanish opponent at last week’s Shanghai Rolex Masters, recorded his 25th match win of the year in 76 minutes. He will now challenge third seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-2 in 76 minutes.

A duo of promising Russian teens enjoyed breakthrough runs in Moscow, but were felled by experienced opponents in the final eight. Daniil Medvedev took the second set 6-0 against veteran Stephane Robert, but lost 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 in his maiden ATP World Tour quarter-final. Nineteen-year-old Alexander Bublik pushed No. 6 Pablo Carreno Busta to a deciding tie-break, but succumbed 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1). Robert and Carreno Busta will face each other for a place in the final.

Cabal/Farah Edge Russian Duo

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah rallied to beat Konstantin Kravchuk and Andrey Kuznetsov 3-6, 6-2, 10-4 to reach the final. The No. 2 seeds are currently No. 10 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Race To London.

Jurgen Melzer joined Radek Stepanek as only the second active player to record 300 singles and doubles career match wins on Thursday at the VTB Kremlin Cup.

The Austrian partnered Julian Knowle to a 6-1, 5-7, 11-9 victory over Mikhail Kukushkin and Stephane Robert in Moscow. They will next face top seeds Pablo Carreno Busta and Marcel Granollers or wild cards Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals.

The 35-year-old Melzer has compiled a 347-331 record, including five titles as a singles player, and is now 300-242 lifetime, with 13 trophies, as a doubles competitor.

Qualifier Daniil Medvedev reached his first ATP World Tour quarter-final on home soil on Thursday at the VTB Kremlin Cup, knocking out 2010 champion and fourth seed Viktor Troicki, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.  

“I talked to the coach and with the Russian players who had already beaten him. They gave me some tips. But, of course, you can’t win just thanks to those tips. Otherwise he wouldn’t be ranked No. 30,” said Medvedev. “I was very glad to see so many spectators cheering for me and this support gave me additional strength. Even though I was tired after the first set, the crowd helped me to win the match.”

The Russian has jumped from No. 329 to No. 123 this year in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Medvedev, who is a contestant in the Tecnifibre’s Young Guns Contest, will now challenge Stephane Robert for a place in the final four.

Joining him in reaching his maiden ATP World Tour quarter-final is wild card and fellow Russian Alexander Bublik. The 19 year old recorded the biggest win of his career by shocking top seed Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-2, 7-5.

“I still don’t believe what I just did. It’s incredible. I played great tennis,” said Bublik. “I had nothing to lose against him. It was my first time out on such a big stage against a top player, so I went out aggressively and tried to enjoy it.”

Punching well above his Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 266, Bublik raced out to a 4-0 lead and continued putting pressure on the Spaniard to take the opening set. Bublik showed his sign of nerves when attempting to serve out the match at 5-4, but regrouped in the next game by breaking Bautista Agut with a forehand passing shot. The Russian made good on his second chance by firing an ace on match point and raising both arms over his head in disbelief.

Bublik has jumped nearly 700 spots this season in the Emirates ATP Rankings. He’s won four ITF Futures titles and scored his first win over a Top 100 player last week against Jiri Vesely at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Tashkent. His run in Moscow marks the first time he’s ever won a main draw match on the ATP World Tour.

Next up for Bublik is another Spaniard in sixth seed Pablo Carreno Busta, a winner due to retirement earlier in the day over Damir Dzumhur, 6-3, 2-1. 

Third seed Philipp Kohlschreiber beat Dusan Lajovic 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to reach his ninth quarter-final of the year (also Sofia, Rotterdam, Dubai, Barcelona, Munich, Stuttgart, Halle, Hamburg). He goes on to face Thomaz Bellucci, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victor over eighth seed Andrey Kuznetsov.

Top seed David Goffin made a strong start at his home tournament’s inaugural event with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Florian Mayer on Thursday at the European Open. Goffin stands at No. 10 in the Emirates ATP Race To London and looks to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for the first time.

The 25-year-old Belgian capitalised on five of his nine break point chances in the 74-minute match as he advanced to the quarter-finals, where he will face qualifier Marius Copil. The Romanian advanced to the last eight with a 7-6(3), 6-2 win over home hope Steve Darcis. 

NextGen star Kyle Edmund, who is at a career-high No. 43 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, continued his banner year with an upset over second seed David Ferrer. The 21-year-old Brit saved seven of 11 break points faced in his victory over the Spaniard, which took just over two hours. He next faces Italian Andreas Seppi as he bids for a first ATP World Tour semi-final.

Jan-Lennard Struff, who won the title at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Mons two weeks ago, ousted fifth seed Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-4. In his second quarter-final this season (also Kitzbuhel), Struff will face third seed Richard Gasquet.

Diego Schwartzman got the better of NextGen star Taylor Fritz, winning 6-4, 6-4 in 72 minutes for a quarter-final clash against fourth seed Pablo Cuevas. 

Top Doubles Seed Advances

Barclays ATP World Tour Finals qualifiers Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-7(4), 6-4, 10-5 win over Federico Delbonis and Diego Schwartzman. They will challenge Dominic Inglot and Andre Sa, 7-5, 3-6, 11-9 winners over Pablo Cuevas and David Marrero.

Third seeds Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin defeated Nicholas Monroe and Artem Sitak 6-0, 6-4 to set a semi-final meeting with second seeds Daniel Nestor and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. 

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European Open – Antwerp, Belgium 

David Goffin, David Ferrer, Richard Gasquet, Pablo Cuevas and Steve Darcis walked to Astridplein for a photo op in the beautiful square.

Goffin’s smoothie skills were put to the test during a media event to announce him as a new ambassador for Maui Jim. Read More

Diego Schwartzman joined Goffin and Ferrer in kids’ day activities, including matches on a mini court and autograph signings.

Simon, NextGen’s Kyle Edmund and Florian Mayer met fans on site for selfies and autographs.

Gasquet and Goffin attended a meet-and-greet at the Emirates suite. 

NextGen’s Taylor Fritz was the lucky star to help out with the draw ceremony ahead of the inaugural tournament.

IF Stockholm Open – Stockholm, Sweden

Home favourites and brothers Mikael Ymer and Elias Ymer were on hand for the opening ceremony and kids’ day activities.

Juan Martin del Potro did a live interview with TV4 Morning Show.

Fernando Verdasco answered his favourite fan questions in a MyATP Q&A. Watch

Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils, Jack Sock, Dustin Brown, Adrian Mannarino, Ivo Karlovic, John Isner and Johan Brunstrom met fans at autograph sessions.

VTB Kremlin Cup – Moscow, Russia

Janko Tipsarevic, Andrey Kuznetsov, Karen Khachanov, Dusan Lajovic and Evgeny Donskoy were among the stars to attend the players’ party, hosted at Duran Bar. The players enjoyed spectacular rooftop views over Moskva River, food, drinks and music from a traditional Russian band.

Roberto Bautista Agut, Viktor Troicki, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Andrey Rublev, Khachanov and Lajovic signed autographs for fans.