Juan Monaco stays on track; Tommy Haas progresses as well – Bet at home Open 2013
Defending champion, Juan Monaco, triumphed over the ninth seed, Benoit Paire, in a three-set thriller at the Bet at home Open German Tennis Championships 2013 on Thursday. Elsewhere, the German top ranked star, Tommy Haas, also stole the show and progressed at this ATP World Tour 500 series event taking place in Hamburg, Germany.
The Argentinean contender stayed on track to defend his crown after upsetting the French seed. He required one hour and 36 minutes summing up a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 victory and securing a quarter-final berth at this outdoor clay court event.
After suffering the first blood in the third game, the fifth seeded Argentinean fell at 1-3. However, he went berserk after that and reeled off five straight games. As a result, Monaco carved out the opener with a 6-3 victory.
The world number 28, Paire sought his momentum in the following set. He went on a five-game killing spree before Monaco could come on the score board. Despite losing his serve in the seventh game, the Frenchman cashed another break chance and grabbed the equaliser with a 6-2 win.
The former Top 10, Monaco re-gained his strength in the deciding set. After the Frenchman held his serve in the opening game, Monaco unleashed barrage of winners to stroke out five games in a row. He held his serve once more and closed out to the decider with a 6-2 win.
Next in queue for Monaco is the third seed, Nicolas Almagro from Spain. The Spaniard eased past his countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in straight sets in one hour and 12 minutes to set-up this epic battle.
The Argentine currently trails 3-5 in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series against Almagro. He needs to lift his game and practice harder in order to overturn this record.
Ranked 11th in the Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Haas will accompany Monaco in the final eight. He clobbered a 6-2, 6-4 victory against the Argentinean challenger, Carlos Berlocq.
The last year’s finalist is eyeing to capture his hometown title for the first time in his 11th attempt. He will face off 12th seeded Italian, Fabio Fognini, in straight sets in one and a half hour-long marathon.
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