Top seed and defending champion Dudi Sela (ISR) has been bundled out in the opening round of the East Hotel Canberra Challenger 2018 by France’s Hugo Grenier who backed up later in the day to clinch a thrilling victory over Australia’s last remaining hope Andrew Harris (Vic).
The match between Sela and Grenier was held over from Tuesday’s play due to thunderstorms. The first set was a tightly contested battle which went to a tiebreak, with Grenier coming out on top, 8-6. In the second set, Sela became visibly frustrated, at one stage smashing a ball into the carpark, but it was one way traffic with the world No. 395 closing it out 6-1 to notch up his first top 100 victory.
Just two hours later, Grenier was back out on centre court to face Harris in the second round. Grenier took the first set 7-5 before Harris bounced back to take the second 6-3. The Aussie took the lead when he secured the break early in the third, but Grenier broke back to level things up at 4-4. With the final set to be decided by a tiebreak, Harris again went up early 3-1, before Grenier rattled off six straight points to win the match and progress to his first ATP Challenger quarterfinal where he will face Hugo Fucsovics (HUN).
In other matches on day five, Florian Mayer (GER) came through a tight match with Queensland wildcard Ben Mitchell 6-4 7-6 (6), while third seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) edged out Geoffrey Blancaneaux (FRA). Andreas Seppi (ITA) and Fucsovics (HUN) were both convincing in their straight set victories.
Emotions ran high in the battle between Maxime Janvier (FRA) and Nicolas Jarry (CHI), with Janvier prevailing in a deciding set tiebreak.
Elliot Benchetrit (FRA) ended the run of Australian qualifier Jeremy Beale, while fifth seed Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM) progressed after Tim Puetz (GER) was forced to withdraw with injury just moments before their clash was set to take place.
Quarterfinals will take place on Thursday, with a blockbuster clash set between former world No.18 Seppi and former world No.23 Garcia-Lopez. Seppi will take confidence into the match leading their career meetings 5-1.
At least one Frenchman will be in the semifinals with countrymen Benchetrit and Janvier to play, while Estrella Burgos and Mayer will feature in the final quarterfinal.
Entry to the Canberra Tennis Centre is free. Play commences at 11.00am.
The order of play and draws can be found here
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