Lorenzo Musetti and Arthur Fils advance at the Hamburg Open

• Hamburg Open defending champion Lorenzo Musetti came from a set down to beat lucky loser Jozef Kovalik 3-6 6-2 6-4
• Meanwhile, Frenchman Arthur Fils made it to Hamburg Open quarter-finals after recording victory over Dusan Lajovic

Hamburg Open defending champion Lorenzo Musetti came from a set down to beat lucky loser Jozef Kovalik 3-6 6-2 6-4.

Musetti recorded his win after 2 hours 7 minutes in a match that spanned two days due to the rains. Play was suspended midway through the second set on Wednesday, and Musetti returned the following day to turn the match around.

Lorenzo Musetti advanced after beating Slovakian lucky loser Jozef Kovalik. Photo/ ATP Tour.

Speaking after his victory, 21-year-old Lorenzo Musetti said he did not play his best tennis against Kovalik. However, he is proud to have made it o the next round in Hamburg.

“I put a lot of physical and fighting spirit on the court today. I was not finding my best tennis and I could feel that. There was a lot of frustration inside. I was running a lot to get to a lot of balls and I was a little bit lucky and I took the chances that he gave me. I think the great champions, most of the time, don’t play their best tennis but win. I made it so I am really proud of myself.” ATP Tour quotes Lorenzo Musetti.

Jozef Kovalik earned his first break in the eighth game, which helped him win the first set 6-3. Musetti returned on Thursday to turn around the match, breaking twice in the fourth and eighth games of the second set. The Italian clinched the second set 6-2, hence forcing a decider. Musetti battled from a break down in the eight game to win the final three games of the match and claim the third set 6-4.

Arthur Fils Reaches Quarter-Finals 

Meanwhile, Frenchman Arthur Fils made it to Hamburg Open quarter-finals after recording victory over Dusan Lajovic.

Fils, who captured his maiden tour-level title in Lyon two months ago arrived in Hamburg after four consecutive defeats. He has looked good in Germany, defeating Daniel Elahi Galan and now Lajovic. The 19-year-old Frenchman needed just one hour and 41 minutes to record a 7-5 7-5 win on Thursday. Fils fought back from a break down in both sets and ended up winning 48% of points on his opponent’s serve.

Lajovic went up a break and took a 3-1 lead. However, Fils would win four consecutive games when 3-5 down to clinch the set 7-5. In the first game of the second set, Lajovic earned an early break. But once again, Fils fought back and leveled the game 4-4 in the eighth game. Within no time, he was already leading and ended up clinching the set.

Arthur Fils. Photo/ DayFR Euro.

Arthur Fils will face Casper Ruud in the quarters. Speaking after his win, Fils said he was happy to make it the quarter-finals in Hamburg. However, his main aim is to reach the semis or finals.

“It is a big tournament, there are a lot of points. I am happy about reaching the quarter-finals, but I am looking at the semi-finals or final if I can.” Arthur Fils said, as per ATP Tour.