Michelsen Downs Tien in All-American Battle
In a matchup featuring two of the United States’ top young tennis talents, fifth-seeded Alex Michelsen rolled past fellow rising star Learner Tien 6-4, 6-2 on Monday in the first round of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston. Michelsen, 20, fired seven aces and converted the only break of the first set before dominating the second, breaking the 19-year-old Tien in each of his first three service games.
Kovacevic, Brooksby Notch Upset Wins
Two more Americans joined Michelsen in the second round with strong performances. Aleksandar Kovacevic stunned seventh-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina 6-3, 6-4, while Jenson Brooksby, a qualifier coming off a long injury layoff, downed Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-4 with steady baseline play.
Holt Falls in Tight Tiebreaks
American Brandon Holt came up short in a hard-fought match against French qualifier Corentin Denolly, losing 7-6 (7), 7-6 (8). Holt failed to capitalize on two set points in each tiebreaker.
Chile’s Cristian Garin also moved on, defeating Switzerland’s Alexander Ritschard 6-3, 6-4.
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Carballes Baena Advances at Grand Prix Hassan II
Baena Overcomes Baadi in Marrakech Opener
Fifth-seeded Roberto Carballes Baena was the lone seed in action Monday at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, Morocco, and he delivered a composed performance to beat Moroccan wild card Taha Baadi 7-6 (3), 6-3. Baena took advantage of 48 unforced errors from Baadi to move on.
Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien edged Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in a grueling three-setter, while Belgium’s Raphael Collignon cruised past Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3.
Gasquet, Navone Advance at Tiriac Open
Gasquet Rallies Past Van De Zandschulp
Veteran Richard Gasquet bounced back from a slow start to defeat the Netherlands’ Botic Van De Zandschulp 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the first round of the Tiriac Open in Bucharest, Romania. Gasquet broke serve six times and won the final eight games of the match.
Seventh seed Mariano Navone of Argentina overcame a mid-match lapse to beat Serbia’s Laslo Djere 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, while Romanian wild card Filip Cristian Jianu thrilled the home crowd by ousting American Nishesh Basavareddy 6-3, 6-4.
