The motion at this week’s ATP Challenger Tour 175 occasions heated up Thursday, when Aix-en-Provence high seed Tommy Paul superior to the quarter-finals in southern France. Daniel Elahi Galan’s victory in opposition to World No. 34 Yoshihito Nishioka was considered one of a number of upsets on the Cagliari Challenger.

American Paul cruised previous Frenchman Geoffrey Blancaneaux 6-2, 6-2 to achieve the quarter-finals of the Open Aix Provence Credit score Agricole.

“Powerful situations at the moment, it was windy. However general I’m pleased with how I performed, I want I’d’ve served higher,” Paul mentioned in his on-court interview. “Extra first serves within the court docket would’ve been higher, however I am blissful to stroll away with the win.”

World No. 17 Paul is the primary High-20 participant to be competing at a Challenger Tour occasion since Stan Wawrinka performed the Prague Challenger in 2020. The 25-year-old Paul will face Jurij Rodionov within the final eight. The six-time Challenger champion Rodionov superior after outlasting Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(5).

Andy Murray escaped alternate Laurent Lokoli 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Regardless of having 4 match factors within the second set, three-time main champion Murray was pushed to a decider by the house hope earlier than sealing victory after two hours, 42 minutes.

Fortunate loser Harold Mayot earned the primary High-50 win of his profession Thursday when he upset second seed Brandon Nakashima 7-6(2), 6-3. The Frenchman Mayot will subsequent meet Alexander Bublik, who downed Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-4.

Two youngsters are into the Aix-en-Provence quarter-finals. Luca Van Assche, 18, rallied from a set all the way down to beat countryman and third seed Adrian Mannarino 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The 18-year-old Arthur Fils wanted two hours, 28 minutes to oust Quentin Halys 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2).

David Goffin additionally superior in Aix-en-Provence after defeating Dan Added 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Cagliari
The upset of the day got here when Colombia’s Galan defeated high seed Nishioka 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 on the Sardegna Open.

Galan, 26, is constructing off his career-best season. In 2022, he surprised World No. 5 Stefanos Tsitispas within the opening spherical of the US Open and reached a career-high No. 67 in November.

How did that really feel? “Fairly good” 😁

Daniel Elahi Galan sees off high seed Nishioka 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 to safe a spot within the Cagliari quarters!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/QhStcxIK8n

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) Might 4, 2023

Galan needed to rally from a set down in every of his first two matches in Cagliari, the place he’ll subsequent face Borna Gojo after the Croatian earned a 6-4, 7-5 victory in opposition to Yosuke Watanuki.

Additionally in Cagliari motion, Thanasi Kokkinakis received 26 of 27 first-serve factors to defeat Alessandro Giannessi 6-4, 6-2. The Aussie will meet fourth seed Laslo Djere within the final eight after the Serbian fended off all 5 break factors confronted to defeat Jozef Kovalik 6-4, 6-2.

Thanasi Kokkinakis in motion on the ATP Challenger 175 occasion in Cagliari.” />
Thanasi Kokkinakis in motion on the ATP Challenger 175 occasion in Cagliari. Credit score: Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour

Taro Daniel ousted third seed Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 6-3 to e book his ticket to the quarter-finals, the place he’ll meet Ugo Humbert.

Dwelling hope and #NextGenATP star Giulio Zeppieri has earned back-to-back wins in opposition to countrymen. After surviving Andrea Vavassori within the opening spherical, Zeppieri moved previous Mattia Bellucci 6-2, 6-0 to set a quarter-final conflict in opposition to Ben Shelton or Fabian Marozsan.