Second seed Roberto Bautista Agut is one match win away from reaching the BMW Open by FWU semi-finals for the third time (2015, 2017), after the Spaniard beat #NextGenATP Norwegian wild card Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday.
Bautista Agut, who is currently No. 14 in the ATP Rankings, lost just four of his first-serve points (31/35) and converted two of his 10 break-point opportunities for victory in 77 minutes.
The World No. 14 will next meet three-time former champion Philipp Kohlschreiber, who, earlier in the day, joined fellow German Maximilian Marterer in the quarter-finals.
Kohlschreiber improved to 31-10 at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament — where he picked up titles in 2007 (d. Youzhny), 2012 (d. Cilic) and 2016 (d. Thiem) — with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Mischa Zverev in 68 minutes.
“It was a great day. I was very aggressive from the start and got an early break,” said Kohlschreiber, who is through to his ninth Munich quarter-final. “I continued to be aggressive and played my game, and I don’t think Mischa was able to really play his game. I always feel special pressure here, but I take a lot out of playing in front of German crowds. I hope I can continue doing well.”
Marterer recorded the biggest win of his career when he knocked out Argentine third seed and 2018 Rio Open presented by Claro champion Diego Schwartzman, currently No. 16 in the ATP Rankings, 6-4, 6-2 in 90 minutes. He first reached the last eight of an ATP World Tour event in February at the Diema Xtra Sofia Open (l. to Basic).
Another player who reached the second tour-level quarter-final of his career (2017 Swiss Indoors Basel), Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, ended the run of in-form Italian Marco Cecchinato, last week’s Gazprom Hungarian Open titlist (d. Millman), 7-6(5), 6-1 in 88 minutes.
Did You Know?
Philipp Kohlschreiber has reached the Munich final on five occasions (2007, 2012-13, 2015-16). He finished runner-up in 2013 (l. to Haas) and 2015 (l. to Murray).