Sachko stuns Bublik in Metz breakthrough
Under the lights of the Moselle Open, Vitaliy Sachko turned a last-chance entry into career-defining glory, outlasting Alexander Bublik in a decider that exposed the fragility of late-season ambitions.
In the humming arena of the Moselle Open, Ukrainian lucky loser Vitaliy Sachko seized the biggest victory of his career, toppling World No. 13 Alexander Bublik 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to claim his first ATP Tour quarter-final spot. The 28-year-old's path through qualifying had honed a resilient edge, one that held firm on the indoor hard courts where pace rewards precision. Over two hours and nine minutes, he navigated Bublik's erratic power with deep crosscourt returns, building pressure that cracked the higher seed's serve in the decider's 12th game.
Sachko's decider dominance shifts rankings
Sachko faced no break points in the third set, his steady baseline game pinning Bublik behind the lines and forcing hurried inside-out forehands into the net. This unyielding hold not only secured the upset but vaulted him 36 places to No. 186 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, ending a Ukrainian drought for tour-level quarter-finals unseen since Sergiy Stakhovsky's run in Marseille in 2019. Bublik's defeat dims his year-end Top 10 prospects, the Russian's one–two combinations faltering under the mounting tension of Metz's swift surface.
Ahead awaits French qualifier Clement Tabur, who edged Alexander Blockx 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 7-6(6) in a tiebreak thriller, saving one match point in the second set to advance. The young Belgian, entering via the Next Gen Accelerator for players aged 20 and under at this ATP 250 event, pushed hard but couldn't convert his edge, his aggressive down-the-line passes meeting Tabur's scrambling defense. Their clash promises a tactical duel of endurance, where Sachko's composure could test the Frenchman's qualifier grit.
Tien builds on breakout season momentum
Learner Tien dispatched Tunisian lucky loser Moez Echargui 7-6(3), 6-3, marking his sixth tour-level quarter-final this year and extending a campaign that saw him reach his maiden ATP Tour final in Beijing last month. The 19-year-old American, now No. 37 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, mixed slice backhands to disrupt rhythm before unleashing inside-out forehands that exploited defensive gaps on the hard courts. His deep runs to the fourth round at ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Shanghai underscore a maturing game suited to the tour's fall swing.
Next for Tien looms a matchup against Matteo Berrettini or Aleksandar Vukic, where the indoor pace could amplify Berrettini's big serves or Vukic's flat groundstrokes in probing rallies. Tien's mental poise, forged in those high-stakes moments, positions him to navigate the pressure, blending tactical variety with the confidence of a rising #NextGenATP star.
Lucky losers reshape quarterfinal draw
Daniel Altmaier advanced when Hugo Gaston retired at the end of the second set, after the Frenchman took the opener 6-4 only to drop a 6-0 bagel that hinted at injury or fatigue under the arena's glare. The German, relying on counterpunching slices to absorb pace, now faces Lorenzo Sonego, whose inside-in forehands will demand quick adjustments on the low-bouncing surface. Gaston's exit highlights the physical toll of late-season play, where one slip can alter trajectories.
French lucky loser Kyrian Jacquet powered into his debut ATP Tour quarter-final, overwhelming Dan Added 6-0, 6-2 with flat groundstrokes and a relentless one–two punch from the baseline. Jacquet's home-crowd surge in Metz sets up a test against Cameron Norrie, the Briton's all-court versatility potentially forcing the newcomer into lobs and defensive underspin. These underdog advances fill the draw with fresh narratives, where opportunistic breaks and saved match points fuel the push toward the semifinals on these unforgiving courts.
