Stefanos Tsitsipas needed to see off a tough opening-set challenge before beating qualifier Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the ATP tournament in Hamburg.
Tsitsipas, the top seed in Hamburg after US Open semifinalist Daniil Medvedev was knocked out in the first round, saved four break points at 4-4 and another at 5-5 in the first set.
The 22-year-old then pulled away to take the first set and then clinch his 20th match win this season.
In the quarterfinals, Greek Tsitsipas, who is ranked sixth in the world, will face Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.