Diego Schwartzman faced no problems in his first match as a top 10 ranked tennis player at the Bett1HULKS Championships Cologne Germany.
The world number 9 strolled into the quarter-finals of this week’s bett1HULKS Championships with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win over host Oscar Otte.
“It’s not easy to get into a tournament after a few great weeks but I love playing indoors,” admitted Schwartzman.
“I like to play on indoor courts that are a little sluggish like this and tried to prepare myself well last week in Mallorca, then I got here and spent a few days training. So I think I did everything to play impressively in this match.”
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The second seed is aiming for an indoor hard-court tournament title this week at the bett1HULKS Championships, her first since setting foot in the semifinals of the first Grand Slam of her career at the French Open.
The Argentine won 47 per cent of the points from returns and received three service breaks in a second half that lasted 1 hour 20 minutes.
“I think everything worked well this time and I have high self-confidence and I feel really good,” added Schwartzman.
Awaiting Schwartzman in this week’s bett1HULKS Championships quarter-finals will be the young Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Argentines won their previous encounter in straight sets at the Australian Open this season.
“I warmed up with him earlier this week then I got to know him,” said Diego Schwartzman.
“He’s a really dangerous player and plays very fast and has a lot of ability on the pitch and also he is very young, so he has confidence and he is playing well.”
“The match against him will be very fierce that I have to recover well but I’m playing really well, so the next match will be a fun one to watch.”
In other action, Japanese left-hander Yoshihito Nishioka won the second round match of the bett1HULKS Championships after overthrowing seventh seed and host player Jan Lennard Struff 2-6, 6-3, 7-6.
World number 56, Nishioka will be looking to maintain his momentum when he faces fifth seed Felix Auger Aliassime in the quarter-finals of bett1HULKS Championships.
Nishioka beat Auger Aliassime in straight sets at the French Open this season and so far Nishioka has led the Canadian youngster by 2-0.
