Jesper de Jong showed his top form again on Wednesday. The Dutchman, who reached the final in Bastad last week, was too strong for the fifth-seeded Mariano Navone in the second round in Umag (6-3 and 6-4).
De Jong has now won six of his last seven matches at ATP level. He lost in the final in Bastad to Luciano Darderi, after which he recovered in Umag.
On Monday, the Dutchman easily won in the first round against the Croatian Mili Poljicak (ATP-277). On Tuesday, he was too strong for Navone.
De Jong finished off Navone on the Croatian gravel in an hour and a half. He missed his first five match points, but did strike on his sixth match point. De Jong played on court 2, under the watchful eye of Dutch vacationers.
Navone is the world number 76 and was even 29th a year ago. The 25-year-old De Jong is currently the number 83 in the world rankings, his best ranking ever. Thanks to his victories in Umag, he will debut in the top 80 next week.
Also Van de Zandschulp in quarter-finals
De Jong will face the winner of the match between the first-seeded Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo and the Spaniard Carlos Taberner in the quarter-finals. Cerundolo is the number nineteen in the world and also the defending champion in Umag.
De Jong is not the only Dutchman to reach the quarter-finals of an ATP tournament on Wednesday. Botic van de Zandschulp reached the last eight in Kitzbühel, Austria by defeating Nicolás Jarry in three sets (6-4, 4-6 and 6-3).
It is the first time in two years that the 29-year-old Van de Zandschulp has been in the quarter-finals of an ATP tournament.