Against the favored Russian Karen Khachanov, Oscar Otte showed the next convincing performance at the ATP tournament in Halle. He turned the quarterfinal game and won in three sets.
Up to the score of 4:4 in the first set, Otte was able to keep up with number 23 in the world. Both players were able to get through their service games without any problems, there were no break chances. However, with a return winner with the backhand, Khachanov then struck and gained the decisive advantage.
Otte pulls through in the second sentence
Otte and his opponent also dominated in the second round with their serves, the receivers had no chance. With a strong game from zero, the Cologne player secured at least the tie break to make it 6: 5, which had to bring the decision after another safe service from Khachanov.
In his first two matches in Halle, Otte had already proven that he was a specialist in this discipline. He secured a set win in the tie break against both Miomir Kecmanovic and Nikoloz Basilashvili. And he also prevailed against Khachanov, using the second set ball with an ace to make it 7:5.
A man for the crunch time
And in the decisive set, Otte showed his nerves of steel, just like in the round of 16. When the score was 2:2, he managed the first break and confirmed it in a tight game seven minutes later to make it 4:2. And then Otte, who had to fend off two breakballs in the last game, held his serve both times and secured the ticket for the semi-finals.
