POPRAD TATRY, June 15, 2015

Day 1 at the inaugural clay court ATP Challenger in Poprad, a city located in the North of Slovakia at the foot of the High Tatra Mountains, featured a special first round match between two wild cards on Monday.

At the € 42,500-event Djordje Djokovic, younger brother of world number one Novak, took on Peter Vajda, nephew of Nole’s coach Marian. The latter, who is unranked and appearing in his first ever ATP Challenger main draw encounter, was in total control of the action, winning 6-3, 6-2. In the battle between the two 19-year-olds, it was Vajda being more effective, capitalizing on seven of his nine break point chances. The Slovakian also won 71% of his first service points to seal victory in 66 minutes. Vajda will face the winner of the encounter between the tournament’s number one Blaz Kavcic and Hans Podlipnik-Castillo next.

Djordje Djokovic

Peter Vajda after the match

“I was comfortable while playing. However during the match I got into big crisis, but luckily I managed to surpass it. So far as a tennis player, I have achieved nothing. That is why this victory is important to me, because I got my first points,” the Slovakian winner told afterwards. Djokovic and Vajda will be reunited, teaming-up together in the doubles draw.

Two of three seeded players in action advanced to the second round. The tournament’s number four Andre Ghem didn’t have to face a break point beating Jan Mertl 6-2, 6-2 in only one hour and seven minutes.

Centre Court in Poprad with Andre Ghem vs Jan Mertl

Sixth seed Gerald Melzer defeated Croatian qualifier Toni Androic, winning 6-4, 7-5. The 24-year-old Austrian withstood seven aces to close the match out in one hour and 24 minutes.

Second seed Alexandr Nedovyesov was forced to retire at 5-7, 0-3 against Adam Pavlasek, who saved all four break points he had to face up to this point of the match. The 20-year-old Czech will face the winner of Dusan Lojda and Riccardo Bellotti in the second round. The encounter will resume at 1-1 in the third set, after the final matches of the day were suspended due to rain.

Alexandr Nedovyesov

Adam Pavlasek