This year’s Vienna Erste Bank Open finalist Karen Khachanov came from one set down to beat Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard 6-7 (12-14) 6-1 6-4 to reach the third round.
Khachanov fired 8 aces and won 70% of his first serve points. Mpetchi Perricard hit 20 aces and 8 double faults and produced 39 winner to 25 unforced errors.
Both players went on serve with no breaks of serve en route to the tie-break. Mpetchi Perricard earned a set point with a mini-break at 6-5. Khachanov pulled back on serve in a trade of mini-breaks to draw level to 6-6. Mpetshi Perricard won the tie-break 14-12 on his fifth set point.
Khachanov earned two breaks of serve in the first and sixth games to win the second set 6-1. The 2018 Paris Bercy champion broke in the ninth game before serving out the win on his first match point.
Khachanov stopped Mpetshi Perricard’s six match winning streak. The French player won his first ATP 500 title in Basel becoming the first player to win the title at the Swiss Indoors since Yannik Noah in 1987.
Khachanov leads the Tour in indoor wins with 12 victories to 2 losses this year.
“It’s a pity I did not win the tie-break but at the same time, that pushed me through. I said if I keep playing like this, I will have chances. I played great, I did not lose my serve all match. I think that’s what made the difference”, said Khachanov.
Arthur Fils beat Jan Lennard Struff 6-3 6-4 to reach the Round of 16 of an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time in his career. The 20-year-old Frenchman saved all break points he faced. He improved his record to 9-1 against to 50 players.
Fils earned the first break in the second game before holding serve to a 3-0 lead. He saved four break points in the fifth and seventh games to hold two service game before serving out on his second set point.
Fils pulled clear with a break in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. The home player held on his service games and closed it out on his first match point.
Fils became the youngest French player to win a main draw match in Paris Bercy on Tuesday since Richard Gasquet in 2006.
“I practiced a lot to reach this level. I spend a lot of time on court, in the fitness room. We work so hard to manage to get a high level of play throughout a match. From a physical point of view, I need to have a high level as well. It pays off. Even if it’s the last tournament of the year. I am tired, but this is where I feel best and I have to carry on like this”, said Fils.
