SARASOTA, April 14, 2015
Tuesday became a tough day for the tournament’s favourites at the Sarasota Open. Only three seeded players advanced to the second round. A very successful first round continued for the players from Argentina.
Top-seed Tim Smyczek crashed out in the opening round on the green clay. The world number 69 from Tampa lost his service four times against Facundo Arguello and was only able to break once. The 22-year-old Argentine closed the match out in 81 minutes winning 6-4, 6-2.
Bjorn Fratangelo derails Paolo Lorenzi’s bid for 300 match wins on the ATP Challenger Tour, rallying from a set down to beat the third seed 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 in two hours and 31 minutes. The 33-year-old Italian remains at 297 match wins on the Challenger Tour.
Currently ranked on career high 166th position: Bjorn Fratangelo
Third seed Paolo Lorenzi lost in the opening round in Sarasota
Wild card Mitchell Krueger upset fifth seed Ruben Bemelmans winning 6-2, 6-2 in only 69 minutes and fourth seed Alejandro Gonzalez advanced through a 7-6, 6-1 victory over Liam Broady.
Alejandro Gonzalez from Colombia is one of only three seeded players, making it into the second round
Two of the young guns fell to two Argentines in their opening matches. Sixth seed Facundo Bagnis rallied back from a set down to defeat 17-year-old Alexander Zverev winning 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. The world number 102 from Buenos Aires, who has already captured one ATP Challenger title in Santiago one month ago, had to save five match points as well as 16 out of 19 break points he faced but capitalized on five on his own to seal victory in two hours and 27 minutes.
Alexander Zverev missed five points in his first round encounter
18-year-old Hyeon Chung from South Korea lost to Horacio Zeballos in their first tour meeting. The 29-year-old Argentine leftie won 82% of his first service points winning 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 29 minutes.
With qualifier Renzo Olivo beating US-American veteran Michael Russell 6-3, 6-4 in 85 minutes, another Argentine prevailed in Sarasota. Five players from the South American country made it into the second round.
In the battle of two 17-year-old US-Americans and best friends, qualifier Francis Tiafoe beat wild card Michael Mmoh in 95 minutes 6-2, 7-6. The winning teenager from Maryland claimed his first senior’s title this season capturing the ITF Future crown in Bakersfield three weeks ago. Reaching the second round in Sarasota, represents Tiafoe’s first victory on ATP Challenger level.
Francis Tiafoe celebrated his first match win on ATP Challenger Level (photo: instudioEphoto)
2010 Sarasota Open Champion Kei Nishikori was on-site signing autographs
