British number two Aljaz Bedene has reached the quarter-finals of the German Open in Hamburg thanks to a straight-sets victory over world number 23 Roberto Bautista Agut.
There was little to separate the men during the early stages of the opening set, with both players exchanging breaks. Bautista Agut managed to bring up a set point on Bedene's serve at 6-5, but Bedene saved it before forcing a tie-break.
The Brit raced into a 5-1 lead in the breaker as Bautista Agut struggled to cope, and from there he was able to close it out 7-6(2).
Bedene squandered the chance to break his opponent three times at the start of a cagey second set before Bautista Agut threatened to turn the match in his favour. However, both players held serve to force another tie-break.
Bautista Agut failed to convert two set points in the breaker as Bedene just about held on. The 26-year-old then wrestled control from the Spaniard to clinch a 7-6(2) 7-6(7) triumph.
Jack Prescott
