BRATISLAVA, November 8, 2016

An all-Slovakian-first round-encounter headlined Tuesday’s play at the €85,000 Peugeot Slovak Open, held at the Aegon Arena in Bratislava. Norbert Gombos gained his fifth victory over eighth seed Jozef Kovalik in as many meetings between the two, rallying 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. The 26-year-old Galanta native saved the only break point he faced, converting one of his own eight chances to prevail in two hours and 15 minutes.

Next up for Gombos will be Germany’s Cedric-Marcel Stebe. The former world number 71 edged past Thomas Fabbiano, winning 6-3, 7-5. Stebe won 80 per cent of his first service points to seal the deal after 78 minutes.

Alexander Kudryavtsev knocked out the tournament’s number five Lukas Rosol, winning 7-6, 2-6, 6-3. Both players sent down 11 aces and the Czech even won nine points more but it was the 31-year-old Russian with the better ending after one hour and 52 minutes. Kudryavtsev awaits the winner of the encounter between third favourite Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic and Slovakian Andrej Martin.

Vasek Pospisil set a second round clash with second seed Illya Marchenko from the Ukraine, battling past Czech Jan Satral 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. In a match without any breaks, the fomer world number 25 from Canada fired 26 aces to prevail in two hours and 31 minutes. Pospisil claimed his first match win at ATP Challenger level since lifting the trophy at his home tournament in Vancouver in August 2013.