BASTAD, July 11, 2017

Leonardo Mayer headlined Monday’s first round action at the €43,000 Bastad Challenger, knocking out the tournament’s number five and Norway’s #NextGenATP star Caspar Ruud.

The 30-year-old Argentine rallied from a set down, hitting nine aces and breaking serve three times to secure a 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory in two hours and 28 minutes. Mayer will next take on either Christian Garin from Chile or Marburg Open champion Filip Krajinovic of Serbia.

Joao Domingues also had to go the distance against Calvin Hemery of France, winning 7-6, 4-6, 7-5. The 23-year-old from Portugal capitalized on four of his 11 break point chances to advance after two hours and 43 minutes. Next up for Domingues will be the winner of the encounter between fourth seed Facundo Bagnis and Mathias Bourgue of France.

Eighth seed Guillermo Garcia-López from Spain defeated Swedish qualifier Fred Simonsson, who appeared in his first main draw at ATP Challenger level, 6-3, 6-2. The World No. 143 didn’t face a break point, converting three of his own to finish the encounter after one hour and 22 minutes. Next up for Garcia-López will be either Aleksandr Nedovyesov from Kazakhstan or French veteran Stephane Robert.

Another Swedish qualifier advanced to the second round, as Isak Arvidsson eased past Vaclav Safranek from the Czech Republic, winning 6-3, 6-3 in only 58 minutes. Arvidsson awaits the winner of the match between Tommy Robredo of Spain and second favourite Renzo Olivo from Argentina.

Photo Gallery Day 1 (by Brigitte Urban):