Rwanda Challenger: Majchrzak expects tough battle against Houkes

Semifinals Friday Majchrzak (WC) vs Houkes (7) 10:00 am CAT Kozlov vs Trungelliti or Ionel Kamil Majchrzak admits he expects a tough battle against Max Houkes in the singles semi-finals of the Rwanda Challenger 50 Tour (week 1) on Friday, March 1, at Kicukiro Ecology Tennis Club. The Polish, who made it to the tournament via a wildcard, stunned world number 219 Calvin Hemery in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 in a match that lasted just 1 hour and 21 minutes. Hemery, number 3 seed, was most people's favorite but never got going throughout the match, making uncharacteristic errors on a dry court, much to his frustration. ALSO READ: ATP Challenger 50 Tour kicks off in Kigali Majchrzak's next opponent, Dutchman Houkes (No 7 Seed), reached the last four after beating Corentin Denolly of France 6-2, 6-3 in the quarter-finals in 1 hour and 12 minutes. Majchrzak previously won four ATP Challenger titles with the most recent coming in 2022. After booking his place to the last four, he said, “It wasn't an easy match, the conditions (hot weather) were not so favorable, for both of us. The court was so dry, which meant that we both didn't play out normal game. It was about the small points that won me the match. Calvin is a tough player, very strong but may be the conditions affected him, he noted. ALSO READ: Yannick Noah lands in Kigali for ATP Challenger 50 Tour And looking ahead to semifinal round, the Pole said, I expect a tough battle against Houkes, who is a very good player, he has won three matches here, but I am ready for that battle. As for Houkes, Friday’s matchup against Majchrzak is just another match. He is focused on doing what has served him well from round one. American Stefan Kozlov defeated Israel’s Oliel Yshai 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 after 2 hours 48 minutes. He will meet the winner of the fourth quarter-final between Argentine Herman Trungelliti (4) and Romanian Nicholas David Ionel (5) whose match was suspended because of rain when Trungelliti was leading the game after winning the first set 6-3. The second set was 2-1 in favor of Ionel before the match was rescheduled to Friday morning. Meanwhile, in the doubles quarter-finals, Thomas Fancutt and Hunter Reese beat Akram El Sallaly and Muhamed Safwat 6-3, 7-6(6). They will meet the winner between Corentin Denolly/Damien Wenger and Clement Tabur/Houkes. The Argentine pair of Hernan Casanova and Juan Pablo Paz defeated Noah Schachter and Joshua Sheehy (USA) 7-5, 6-3. They face the winner between Pruchya Isaro/Christopher Rungkat and Zimbabwean brothers Benjamin Lock/Courtney John Lock, in the last four on Friday.

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Rwanda Challenger: Majchrzak expects tough battle against Houkes