ATLANTA/STARNBERG, July 23, 2024
The Atlanta Open has returned to the Atlantic Station for the last time this week. Main draw action of the ATP Tour 250 hard-court tournament kicked off Monday featuring two wild card players.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Frenchman Arthur Cazaux 6-2, 7-6(4). The 25-year-old Spaniard fired 11 aces and won 83 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 51 minutes.
Up next for Davidovich Fokina will be a player from the United States, either Reilly Opelka or Aleksandar Kovacevic.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov also entered the field with a wild card but fell in the opening round to David Goffin. The World No. 98 from Belgium won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in two hours and four minutes and will next take on the winner of the all-Australian affair between No. 8 seed Max Purcell and Christopher O’Connell.
“It was not easy, especially the first match of the U.S. summer. That kind of surface can be different if the sun comes out or not, with the humidity, with the heat,” Goffin said. “It’s not easy to find a good rhythm in the first match [of the swing], but I’m really happy that I managed to win that one. It’s great for my confidence, especially on the first tournament and first time I’m coming here in Atlanta.”.
MONDAY RESULTS
Singles – First Round
[5] [WC] A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) d A. Cazaux (FRA) 6-2, 7-6(4)
D. Goffin (BEL) d [WC] D. Shapovalov (CAN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Y. Nishioka (JPN) d [Q] Z. Svajda (USA) 7-6(4), 6-3
Doubles – First Round
[1] M. Purcell (AUS) / J. Thompson (AUS) d [WC] Bra. Nakashima (USA) / Bry. Nakashima (USA) 4-6, 6-2, 11-9
[Alt] T. Schoolkate (AUS) / A. Walton (AUS) d [4] D. Hidalgo (ECU) / J. Smith (AUS) 7-6(4), 7-6(3)
[Alt] H. Hach Verdugo (MEX) / A. Mannarino (FRA) d R. Seggerman (USA) / P. Trhac (USA) 6-3, 7-6(3)
E. King (USA) / R. Stalder (USA) d A. Karatsev / M. McDonald (USA) 7-6(5), 6-4
You cannot be serious! Check out day ✌️ of the main draw matchups.
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