Lý Hoàng Nam enters the last eight of the Challenger Bangkok Open 1 in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand on August 24. Photo of VTF

HÀ NỘI — Lý Hoàng Nam of Việt Nam came from behind to beat No 8 seed Illya Marchenko of Ukraine in the second round of the Challenger Bangkok Open 1 tennis tournament in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand on August 24.

Nam, who grabbed the best world ranking of 328 early this week, defeated Marchenko, No 308, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 in 2 hours and 35 minutes. 

Marchenko sat at No 49 in the world in 2016. Last year, he beat former world No 1 Andy Murray 6-2, 6-4 in the Biella Challenger's final.

The win pushed Nam to the quarter-final where he will face No 1 seed Alastair Gray on August 26. The Brit won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 against Evgeny Donskoy of Russia.

This is the first time that Nam has advanced to the last eight of a Challenger Tour event.

He also earned nine points in the world ranking, helping him move closer to his target of being in the top 300 this year. VNS