Pouille Saves 2 MPs To Advance In Budapest

Top seed Lucas Pouille withstood a strong test from Jiri Vesely in his opening match at the inaugural Gazprom Hungarian Open on Thursday. The Frenchman saved two match points to advance to the quarter-finals, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4).

“I’m pleased with the win because it was difficult conditions,” said Pouille. “We both wanted to finish tonight. Now I need to recover for tomorrow.”

Pouille’s next opponent will be Martin Klizan, who beat American qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo 6-3, 6-2. Klizan capitalised on five of his nine break point chances in the 71-minute victory.

Andrey Kuznetsov upset third seed Fabio Fognini 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4). The Russian saved eight of the 12 break points he faced to overcome the Italian in two hours and five minutes and advance to the quarter-finals. Kuznetsov will next face another Italian, sixth seed Paolo Lorenzi, who defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

“It was a long and exhausting match for me,” said 26-year-old Kuznetsov. “Before the match, I knew that I could win, that I would have chances. I was playing confidently, especially in the beginning and I had a good fight in the end of the match. It’s not easy against Fabio.”

In doubles, Robin Haase and Dominic Inglot reached the semi-finals after knocking out top seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic 7-6(5), 7-5. Haase/Inglot next face third seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, who advanced with a 7-6(2), 4-6, 10-5 win over Paolo Lorenzi and Julio Peralta.

Second seeds Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi advanced to the last four with a 7-6(8), 4-6, 10-7 win over Sam Groth and Robert Lindstedt. Huey/Mirnyi will next face fourth seeds Brian Baker and Nikola Mektic.