Defending champion Hurkacz out of Halle Open, Rublev and Sinner advance – News Block

HALLE, Germany (AP) — Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner reached the quarterfinals of the Halle Open on Thursday when defending champion Hubert Hurkacz was eliminated after a dramatic final-set tiebreaker.

Rublev won his second round match against German wild card Yannick Hanfmann 7-6 (6), 6-3 after coming back from a 5-3 deficit in the first set tiebreaker. Rublev lost to Hanfmann in Rome last month.

“Last time he beat me and he’s playing better and better,” Rublev said. “Especially on grass, it’s even more difficult to play against him because he has a good serve and a good game at the net. I was able to win the match in straight sets, so I’m very happy.”

Rublev now faces Tallon Griekspoor after the Dutchman defeated Hurkacz 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(8). Griekspoor converted his fifth match point for the win after saving a match point at 8-7 down. Griekspoor is coming off his second title of the season at the Libema Open.

Sinner needed nearly three hours to win 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 against fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego to reach his ninth quarterfinal of 2023. Sinner saved all eight break points he faced against his friend while they played. under roof closed due to storms in the area.

That earned fourth-seeded Sinner a quarterfinal matchup against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, who won 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 against Jan-Lennard Struff, who was coming off a runner-up finish in Stuttgart.