Advertising

The three seeded players in action at Stuttgart’s Boss Open Wednesday all successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 event.

Third seed Frances Tiafoe defeated Jiri Lehecka, 7-6 (2), 6-4, to close out play. After converting the first break of the contest to put the match on his racquet, Tiafoe staved off a pair of break points to shut the door on his 21-year-old opponent after 77 minutes.

The American, who is aiming to reach his first ATP grass-court final this week, will next meet Lorenzo Musetti. The sixth seed dispatched Gregoire Barrere, 6-3, 6-3, compiling 28 winners to just 10 unforced errors.

Tiafoe is now 14-13 in tour-level matches on grass.

Tiafoe is now 14-13 in tour-level matches on grass.

Advertising

Earlier in the day, No. 4 seed Hubert Hurkacz survived a stiff challenge from Yosuke Watanuki. Two points from defeat in a second set tie-break, Hurkacz found a way to win. Despite being unable to break the Japanese qualifier and being out-aced 27 to 21, the Pole eked out a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) victory.

In 's-Hertogenbosch, seeds were less fortunate. Though second-seeded Jannik Sinner cruised past Alexander Bublik, 6-4, 6-2, the same couldn’t be said for No. 3 seed Borna Coric and No. 7 seed Ugo Humbert.

Coric was sent packing, 6-4, 6-4, by Mackenzie McDonald, while Humbert was eliminated when Emil Ruusuvuori held on for a 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-4 win. Ruusuvuori lined up a quarterfinal meeting with Sinner, who improved to 3-0 against Bublik.