The quarter-finalists of the Calgary National Bank Challenger have been decided after a thrilling round of matches on Thursday. The tournament, which offers $81,240 in total prize money, is being played on the hard courts of the OSTEN & VICTOR Alberta Tennis Centre in Calgary.
Fifth-seeded Brayden Schnur (Pickering, ON), the lone Canadian remaining in the singles draw heading into the round of 16, was beaten 7-6(5), 6-3 by Tobias Kamke of Germany. Kamke had defeated Schnur’s compatriot Filip Peliwo (Vancouver, BC) in the previous round. Great Britain’s Liam Broady (No. 7) is the highest seeded player remaining in the tournament. He beat Nick Chappell of the United States 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach Friday’s quarter-finals.
Joining him is Geoffrey Blancaneaux (No. 14) of France who pulled off the biggest upset of the day by overcoming third seed Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6(7), 6-4. Other results of note included eighth-seeded Arthur Rinderknech’s 6-7(7), 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over ninth-seeded Julian Lenz of Germany and 15th seed Goncalo Oliveira’s 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Alex Rybakov of the United States.
Kacper Zuk of Poland, who knocked out top seed Vasek Pospisil in the previous round, continued his impressive run with a 7-6(6), 6-4 win over JC Aragone of the United States. Aziz Dougaz of Tunisia retired from his match ensuring Maxime Cressy will advance, while Yusuke Takahashi of Japan beat Germany’s Tobias Simon 6-4, 7-6(4).
In doubles, French pairing Manuel Guinard and Rinderknech defeated Ryan Peniston of Great Britain and Felix Corwin of the United States to book their place in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Americans Chris Harrison and Dennis Novikov lost to their countrymen Natan Pasha and Max Schnur in their quarter-final.
Canada’s Peliwo and partner Harry Bourchier of Australia will take on second seeds Karol Drzewiecki of Poland and Oliveira tomorrow in their quarter-final.
(Feature photo: Kyle Clapham)