BARCELONA, April 25, 2017

Four top 10 seeds were in second round action at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Tuesday led by the tournament’s number four, Dominic Thiem, who defeated British youngster Kyle Edmund 6-1, 6-4.

In the opening match on Pista Nadal, the 23-year-old from Austria saved all of the six break points he faced, converting three of his own to advance in one hour and 20 minutes. Thiem will next take on Daniel Evans from Great Britain, who beat Mischa Zverev 6-4, 6-4.

Alexander Zverev

ATP NextGen star Alexander Zverev, a wild card entry,  fought past 2013 Barcelona finalist Nicolas Almagro, winning 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. The 20-year-old German won two points more than his Spanish opponent to prevail after two hours and 25 minutes.

“The main reason I came here is because the draw is so strong; it’s almost like another Masters 1000,” Zverev said.

“There’s a certain Mr. Rafa Nadal in my section. Maybe some of you remember the match last week. That’s in the back of my mind and to be very fair, that’s a very big reason why I am here: to get another shot to be on court with him.

Next up for Zverev, however, will be either compatriot Philipp Kohlschreiber or Hyeon Chung of Korea.

Seventh seed Pablo Carreno-Busta eased past Italian Andreas Seppi, winning 6-4, 6-2. The 25-year-old Spaniard saved both break points he faced, capitalizing on three of his own chances to finish the encounter after 63 minutes.

Carreno-Busta will next take on Yuichi Sugita. The lucky loser from Japan upset ninth favourite Richard Gasquet of France, who competed in his first tournament in two months since reaching the semi-finals in Marseille in February. Gasquet underwent appendicitis surgery in early March and withdrew from Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo. Sugita rallied from a set down to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory in two hours and 27 minutes.

Photo Gallery Tuesday (by Brigitte Urban):