Thompson tumbles in Lyon

Lyon, France, 25 May 2017 | Reuters

Ending Australia’s chances at the tournament after the exits of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, Jordan Thompson bowed out in the second round of the ATP event in Lyon.

Thompson was beaten 6-2 7-6(3) by Russian world No.54 Karen Khachanov, who will next face second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Home favourite Tsonga fought back to secure a 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3 victory over Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq.

Also making the quarters and set to play each other are seeded duo Gilles Simon and Tomas Berdych.

Berdych got over rising South Korean star Hyeon Chung 6-3 7-5, while Simon came from a set down to beat Brit Kyle Edmund 3-6 7-5 6-4.

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro suffered a setback to his French Open preparations after losing 7-6(0) 6-4 to qualifier Gastao Elias in second round.

Meanwhile, top seed Milos Raonic moved into the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

After losing the opening set tie-breaker without collecting a point, sixth seed del Potro broke Elias’ serve in the first game of the second set but failed to capitalise.

With the set level at 4-4, the 26-year-old Portuguese claimed the last two games and will face Raonic in the last eight on Thursday after the Canadian defeated Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-3.

Raonic, the world No.6, fired eight aces and won 25 of his 30 first-serve points as he dominated a match lasting an hour and 25 minutes.