Raonic edges out Tsonga at Stuttgart Open, Coric fights back in 's-Hertogenbosch
Milos Raonic, still on the comeback trail from injury, made hard work of beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-1) at the Stuttgart Open.
Raonic, runner-up in 2018, has returned to action at this tournament having withdrawn from the French Open due to his failure to overcome a knee injury sustained at the Miami Open in late March.
The sixth seed hit 24 aces as both players struggled to make any great inroads against serve.
Marton Fucsovics will be the world number 18's opponent in the quarter-finals, after the Hungarian saved three match points to beat fourth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 7-5.
.@milosraonic finds a way at the #MercedesCup
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 12, 2019
He's moving into the quarters in Stuttgart pic.twitter.com/hZTKb8Y1ry
Third seed Daniil Medvedev also bowed out, with wildcard and 2017 champion Lucas Pouille claiming a 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-2 win.
Meanwhile, Borna Coric started his grass-court season in style as he came from behind to beat Taylor Fritz 4-6 6-3 6-3 at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships in 's-Hertogenbosch.
.@borna_coric battles out a second round win vs. Fritz; 4-6, 6-3, 6-3!#LibemaOpen @ATP_Tour pic.twitter.com/336BTMD7Tm
— Libéma Open (@LibemaOpen) June 12, 2019
Fritz won all 12 of his first-service points in the opening set, but in the final two sets, second seed Coric converted all three break points to progress into the quarter-finals, while third seed Alex de Minaur overcame Andreas Seppi.