Read & Watch: Tsitsipas, Shapovalov Win On Stockholm Debuts

Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas lost just eight of his first-service points to knock out John Millman of Australia 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes for a place in the Intrum Stockholm Open quarter-finals on Wednesday. The Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier, who reached the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and Rogers Cup finals (l. to Nadal both times) this year, will next play eighth-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco or Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany.

“I had a good start, got the break and thought it was a good start,” said Tsitsipas. “I started playing defensively in the second set and got broken twice. It didn’t affect me losing the second set, but I got closer to his serve in the third set and broke at 4-3.”

Watch Hot Shot: Tsitsipas Hangs Tough In Stockholm

Earlier in the day, seventh seed Denis Shapovalov, who is also making his debut at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament, beat fellow Canadian Peter Polansky 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 in two hours and 33 minutes. Shapovalov led 3-1 in the deciding set, but recovered from a 4-5 deficit to win 12 of the last 14 points.

“It was definitely a tough match, I knew it was going to be going in – having played him a few times earlier in my career,” said Shapovalov, who is now 35-25 on the year. “I knew what he was capable of and I was ready for it.”

The 19-year-old, who has also qualified for 21-and-under event in Milan from 6-10 November, will next face Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis in the second round. “He’s definitely a good player and has a lot of experience. It’s going to be a really tough match as he’s capable of playing really good tennis.”

Watch Hot Shot: Shapovalov Rips Winner On Set Point

Jack Sock progressed to the quarter-finals after two hours and 22 minutes, edging home favourite Elias Ymer 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. The two-time runner-up, now 13-5 in the Swedish capital, won 83 per cent of first-serve points to reach his first tour-level quarter-final since Houston in April.

“It was a tough match, I thought [Ymer] played very well” said Sock. “I hadn’t seen him play a whole lot before, but I thought he served well and played solid from the ground. It definitely took some of my best tennis to get through in the end.”

In the final match of the day, South Korea’s Hyeon Chung beat American Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-3 and will next meet Lukas Lacko or second seed Fabio Fognini.