Hemery, Garaganga cruise to GSL Open quarter-finals
T@shagcy
op seed Frenchman, Calvin Hemery cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 win over American Aron Pierce to reach the quarter-finals of the GSL Open Nigeria F3 Futures in Abuja yesterday.
With no Nigerians remaining in the tournament, the half-Nigerian Hemery enjoyed huge support from the fans who backed him all through the match against the big-serving American.
“It’s not an easy game as the scoreline read because Aron was serving very well. He also has a very good backhand but I was able to break him early in both sets and that kept me in control,” the 22-year-old whose dad hailed from Edo State said.
Next up for Hemery, who will head to the French Open after the tournament is Haadin Bava of India, who defeated Karim Hossam of Egypt 6-2, 4-1.
Second seed, Brayden Schnur of Canada also progressed by beating Jose Vidal Azorin of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (2), and also through is third seed, Alessandro Bega of Italy, a 6-2, 6-4 conqueror of Adrian Andrzejczuk of Poland.
Serbian Pedja Krstin, the fourth seed and winner of the Dayak Championship Nigeria F2 Futures, expectedly, did not disappoint as he took out Pole David Argazinski 6-1, 6-2 in sublime fashion.
Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garaganga, the sixth seed triumphed 6-2, 6-2 over Indian Kunal Anand while Tunisian Moez Echargui scaled the hurdle of Viktor Durasovic of Norway with a comeback 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win to keep stimulate Africa’s interest in the Pro Circuit event.
Guatemalan Diaz-Figueroa Christopher overpowered Indian sixth seed, Sasi Kumar Mukund 6-4, 7-6 (1).
The other quarterfinals matches will see Echargui takes on Schnur, Bega confronts Diaz-Figueroa and Krstin battles Garaganga.
In the doubles, Brazilians Fabiano De Paula and Fernando Romboli are through in their chase for the doubles crown they relinquished last week by defeating Alexis Canter of Great Britain and Jose Vidal Azorin.
Alessandro Bega and Pedja Krstin, who were the reigning champions were beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Benjamin Lock of Zimbabwe who paired Schnur. Echargui and Mark Fynn also move on with 6-3, 6-4 win over Indian duo of Bava and Mukund. Kunal Anand and Anvit Bendre also qualify for the semis by ending beating Andrzejczuk and Mateusz Smolicki of Poland.