HELSINKI / STARNBERG, 19.11.2021

Slovak Alex Molcan has stopped running recently a two-time ATP Challenger Tour champion Oscar Otte in the semifinals of the series HPP open In Helsinki, Finland. 3rd place in the € 44,820 hardfield tournament won fifth place on Friday afternoon from Germany 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

Molcan lasted seven aces and cut Otte’s serve five times and sealed the win in an hour and 42 minutes. World number 103 from Bratislava will play next time in the Russian qualifiers Alexander Shevchenko, who benefited from his opponent ‘s withdrawal for the second time in a row. In the second round German veteran Matthias Bachinger had to stop playing towards the end of the second set. This time Shevchenko’s match Mats Moraing ended when the Russian won the opening round 6-4 because the German suffered a left knee injury.

“The Challenger Tour doesn’t have easy matches, they’re all tough.” Shevchenko said. “Of course I had a bit of luck, but I’m very happy to be able to advance to the semi-finals. I practiced hard during the Covid break, played well in the summer and won the Futures title, which helped me gain self-confidence.

The lower half of the draw is led by the number 2 seed Henri Laaksonen. On the world list 97, Switzerland defeated the Serbian in eighth place Nikola Milojevic 6-2, 6-3. Laaksonen saved the only artball he encountered and took advantage of four of his own seven opportunities to move forward after an hour and four minutes.

Next, a 29-year-old Finn is native Joao Sousa From Portugal, who fought past 6th place Liam Broady British 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-6 (1). The longest encounter of the day lasted two hours and 31 minutes.

The last installment of the duel

Harri Heliovaara will fly the Finnish flag in Saturday ‘s doubles final. A 32-year-old from Helsinki and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer receives the whole Austrian combination Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler, who won the title of virgin team at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel, Finland.

The championship match is scheduled to begin at the central field at Tali Tennis Center at 12 noon local time, followed by the semi-finals of the singles.