British number two Jack Draper recovered from a first-set blip to surge into the quarter-finals of the BMW Open in Munich.
Taking on home favourite Rudolf Molleker, the 22-year-old surprisingly fell 1-0 down but completed an emphatic turnaround to advance with a 4-6 6-1 6-1 triumph with one hour and 35 minutes on the board.
After needing three sets to navigate his way past Vit Kopriva in his opening contest - which was delayed for a few hours due to inclement weather - Draper's second-round match was also affected by Bavarian rain on Wednesday.
The world number 46 struggled to impose himself on Molleker either way, though, losing serve in the fifth game of the match and carving out few openings on the returning side early doors.
A trio of timely aces saw Draper hold to stay in the first set, but he had failed to bring up a single break point during the opener, and a straightforward hold to 15 for Molleker saw the world number 179 take a shock lead.
Quarter-finals calling 📞@jackdraper0 finishes with a flourish to reach his 10th @atptour level quarter-final in Munich
— LTA (@the_LTA) April 17, 2024
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Rain-delay benefits ace-happy Draper
However, play was then halted for 45 minutes on the clay as the heavens opened, and the hiatus worked hugely in Draper's favour, and the British number two was irrepressible for the remainder of the contest.
After the second set got underway, the clinical Draper needed just two opportunities to earn a double break for a 5-1 lead, before levelling the match with another ace - his seventh of the afternoon.
The writing was on the wall for Molleker when Draper immediately broke at the start of the deciding set, and despite missing two chances to seal progression on the German's serve, a well-executed cross-court forehand punched his ticket to the last eight.
"He played an amazing level in the first set. The conditions were very rainy and slow, so it was tough to come out and play a certain way," the sixth seed said on the court.
"In the second and third, the sun came out and I started feeling better. better. I'm really proud of how I played. You've got to take whatever comes at you. It's a real challenge for both players and we both had to mentally stay good."
Either third seed Taylor Fritz or Spaniard Alejandro Moro Canos will battle Draper for a spot in the semi-finals, while later on Wednesday, Emma Raducanu - who learned this morning that she will not be on the main draw entry list for the French Open - begins her Stuttgart Open campaign against Angelique Kerber.
Ben Knapton
