Lucas Pouille battles past Karen Khachanov to reach quarters in Dubai | Tennis News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Lucas Pouille battles past Karen Khachanov to reach quarters in Dubai

Reuters | ByReuters
Feb 28, 2018 11:24 PM IST

Second seed Lucas Pouille served seven aces and converted three break points to prevail against Karen Khachanov at the Dubai Duty Free tennis tournament and will next play Yuichi Sugita, who beat Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(4) 6-4.

Lucas Pouille overcame Karen Khachanov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and avenge his defeat by the Russian in last weekend’s final in Marseille.

France's Lucas Pouille returns to Russia's Karen Khachanov (unseen) during their Dubai Duty Free Tennis tournament singles match on Wednesday.(AFP)
France's Lucas Pouille returns to Russia's Karen Khachanov (unseen) during their Dubai Duty Free Tennis tournament singles match on Wednesday.(AFP)

Second seed Pouille served seven aces and converted three break points to prevail in an hour and 39 minutes. Up next for the Frenchman is a first career meeting with Yuichi Sugita, who beat Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(4), 6-4.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“I knew it would be a tough one,” Pouille, who won the Montpellier title earlier this month, said.

“In the final in Marseille, he won just three points more than me. I knew it was very close. I had to play some good tennis... I’m just very happy that I got my revenge today.”

Pouille, the highest seed remaining in Dubai after Grigor Dimitrov’s shock loss to Tunisian wildcard Malek Jaziri on Tuesday, broke world number 41 Khachanov in the ninth game before cruising to a one-set lead.

Khachanov hit back in the next set to drag the contest into a decider, before Pouille saved two break points in the third set and upped his game to advance.

Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, seeded third, also reached the quarter-final after a 6-4 6-7(2) 6-1 victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert in windy conditions. He next faces Borna Coric, who eased past Benoit Paire 6-1 6-4.

Greek wildcard Stefanos Tsitsipas dumped out sixth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6 6-3 6-4.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On