Top seed Grigor Dimitrov defeated qualifier Jerzy Janowicz, 7-5, 7-6(5), Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Intrum Stockholm Open. Dimitrov, who won the event in 2013, hit nine aces and dropped just five points on his first serve to improve his record to 3-2 against Janowicz. More importantly, the win boosted Dimitrov’s chances of making it to the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old Dimitrov, who has three titles to his name this year, is sixth in the ATP Race To London with 3,455 points, just 80 points behind fifth-running Marin Cilic.
Dimitrov is trying to win four titles in a season for the first time in his career. Dimitrov will next face fifth seed Mischa Zverev, a straight-set winner over Viktor Troicki in just 68 minutes.
Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro also kept his London bid alive with a 6-2, 7-6(5) victory over Jan-Lennard Struff. With the win, Del Potro climbed to No. 16 in the ranking with 1,930 points. Del Potro will next face seventh seed Yuichi Sugita, who defeated 2009 champion Marcos Baghdatis in three sets.
Anderson steps up London bid
Second seed Kevin Anderson strengthened his bid for a spot in London with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over South Korean Hyeon Chung. Anderson hit 18 aces and clinched 28 of his 32 first-service points to improve his record to 32-18 this season.
Anderson is currently No. 12 in the ATP Race To London with 2,450 points, just 155 points behind No. 9 Pablo Carreno Busta, who owns the final qualification berth for the season finale, which will be played at The O2 in London from November 12 to 19.
Tsonga reaches quarterfinal in Antwerp
Second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated fellow Frenchman Kenny De Schepper, 6-4, 6-3, in 88 minutes to make it to the quarterfinals of the European Open.
Tsonga, who improved to 30-13 on the season, will next face another compatriot, Julien Benneteau, for a spot in the semifinals. Fourth seed Diego Schwartzman also reached the quarterfinals after beating Ernesto Escobedo, 6-3, 7-6(5), in one hour and 41 minutes. He will next play either fifth seed David Ferrer or Steve Darcis.
Greek qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas also notched his first ATP World Tour quarterfinal appearance after Ivo Karlovic retired with a left ankle injury while trailing, 7-6(4), 5-6. Tsitsipas will next face the winner of the clash between David Goffin and Frances Tiafoe.
Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev tallied the biggest upset at the VTB Kremlin Cup after beating top seed Busta, 6-3, 6-3, in 81 minutes. Medvedev will next play qualifier Mirza Basic, a straight-set winner over Laslo Djere in just 46 minutes.
