Alexander Zverev needs three sets to win in Sweden
Last updated on: 19 July,2023 09:53 am
Zverev's seeded counterparts, however, got tripped up early and often
Bastad, Sweden (Reuters) - Fifth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany outlasted Slovakia's Alex Molcan 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to advance out of the first round of the Nordea Open on Tuesday in Bastad, Sweden.
Zverev's seeded counterparts, however, got tripped up early and often. Austria's Sebastian Ofner rallied to beat No. 6 Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; Slovak qualifier Jozef Kovalik upset No. 7 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-3, 6-4; and Argentina's Federico Coria took down eighth-seeded countryman Sebastian Baez 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5).
In a battle between Swedish wild cards, Leo Borg, son of legendary Bjorn Borg, notched his first ATP main-draw victory by advancing past Elias Ymer with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory. Also victorious Tuesday were Italian Matteo Arnaldi, Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles and Russians Pavel Kotov and Alexander Shevchenko.
EFG Swiss Open Gstaad
Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland led 6-1, 3-1 when Spanish sixth seed Roberto Carballes Baena withdrew from their first-round match with an injury on Tuesday in Gstaad, Switzerland.
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is vying to become the first Swiss man to win his national open since Roger Federer did so in 2004.
Swiss wild card Dominic Stricker also moved on with a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) win over Arthur Fils of France. Others to advance included Argentina's Facundo Bagnis and Pedro Cachin, Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas.
Alex Michelsen went the distance to upset fifth seed and defending champion Maxime Cressy 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5 in an all-American first-round match in Newport, R.I. Cressy fired 23 aces but also had 13 double faults. Michelsen saved all five break points he faced en route to victory.
No. 6 seed Max Purcell of Australia also fell, as Dutch opponent Gijs Brouwer cruised 6-4, 6-1. Four-time Newport champion John Isner, meanwhile, beat Australian qualifier Alex Bolt 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
Others who moved on included South African Kevin Anderson (the 2021 champion), Steve Johnson, Ethan Quinn and Australians James Duckworth and Li Tu.