Philipp Kohlschreiber reaches the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Munich: The triple champion defeated Roberto Bautista Agut from Spain in the round of the last eight. with 6:4 and 6:4.
By Jens Huiber from Munich
Title number four at the MTTC Ihpitos is within reach for Philipp Kohlschreiber: Although the German number two would not want to go that far on Friday – after his win over Roberto Bautista Agut, Kohlschreiber is only two more victories for the fourth championship in Munich.
A few weeks ago Bautista Agut was already in a very small pool of players who could have played Philipp Kohlschreiber in the Davis Cup in Valencia – but the Spanish team boss Sergi Bruguera had himself for David Ferrer after all. From the point of view of the hosts: rightly so. Bautista Agut is also in Munich because of her commitments to the tournament’s co-name sponsor, her brand colleagues Gael Monfils and Fabio Fognini said goodbye right from the start.
Kohlschreiber, on the other hand, comes to MTTC Iphitos every year with great pleasure, no wonder, he has won the title three times, most recently in the final against Dominic Thiem in 2016. There are plenty of places on the ATP tour that are not so good for his playing field, explained Kohlschreiber after the relaxed victory against Mischa Zverev. In Munich, however, the external circumstances would speak for him.
The Augsburg native showed this right from the start, starting the match with a break. That was also enough to win the set. Bautista-Augut was annoying, Kohlschreiber consistent. In the second round Kohlschreiber also took the Spaniard’s serve early, had to accept the equaliser for 3:3 – and took the next break. And had finally broken the resistance of his opponent. 6:4, 6:4 after 77 minutes the final score.
Kohlschreiber could now face Maximilian Marterer in a stable duel – the two are training partners in the Oberhaching tennis base. In the other semi-final, titleholder Alexander Zverev and Hyeon Chung will meet.
Here the single tableau in Munich