It was the blockbuster of the second round Play In Challenger : Arthur Rinderknech (90th), top seed, opposed to local player Lucas Pouille (289th). A very exciting opposition which delighted the packed crowd and showed very high level of tennis. One hour for the first set, two hours and forty minutes for the whole match, which eventually turned at the advantage of Arthur Rinderknech : 6-7, 7-5, 6-4.
« I expected Lucas to be able to put a lot of intensity, but I thought he would not be able to keep this level all along the match if the latter was lasting, and it lasted; but he was very consistent. I am happy of his come back with this ability to play at a very high level during several hours. As to me, I realized a good match, even if it was not perfect.», reacted the French player, who will be faced this Friday to Billy Harris (185th) in quarter final.
Strong and focus, Pierre-Hugues Herbert (166th) dominated his compatriot Tristan Lamasine (285th) in the second round. « I had a very high game level during the first set, then a bit down in the second but I managed to conclude against a player who won a lot of matches since the beginning of the season », reacted Alsacian player.
It should be a bit more harder this Friday in quarter final since he will find out Giovanni Mpetchi Perricard (170th, 8th seed). Trained by Emmanuel Planque, he made great impression since his arrival in the North of France, for his very high level of tennis, but also for his size (2,03 m).
The third quarter final will see Grégoire Barrère (124th) opposed to last year winner Otto Virtanen (131st) who was in the zone Thursday night against young Belgium Alexander Blockx (313rd), (6-1, 6-4), who upset Benoît Paire in the first round.
Moldovan Radu Albot (152th) and Belgium Joris De Loore (211st) are the two other quarter finalists. They will be planned as second match o the day, in the beginning of the afternoon.
