BRUNSWICK, July 7, 2015
All of the top four seeds were in action on a sunny Day 2 at the € 106,500 ATP Challenger Sparkassen Open in Brunswick.
Top seed Pablo Carreῆo-Busta opened his campaign in Germany with a victory over Florian Mayer, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. The 31-year-old local was in control of the match right from the beginning taking the opening set in only 23 minutes. But the Spanish world number 67, who arrived from the grass in Wimbledon, found his rhythm in the following and rallied back to prevail after one hour and 36 minutes.
Pablo Carreno-Busta advanced to the second round
Carreῆo-Busta will take on Rogerio Dutra Silva next. The 31-year-old Brazilian qualifier cruised past Farrukh Dustov in only 56 minutes, winning 6-1, 6-0. It will be the pair’s second tour meeting. The Spaniard won the only previous match in Alessandria in 2010 in three sets.
The tournament’s second favourite Marcel Granollers crashed out in the opening round, losing to Andre Ghem 4-6, 2-6. The 33-year-old Brazilian won 64% of his first service points to advance after one hour and 25 minutes facing Paul-Henri Mathieu in the second round.
Third seed Alexander Zverev started successfully into his title defence, winning his opening match against Bulgarian qualifier Dimitar Kuzmanov 6-0, 1-6, 6-3. In an encounter with a lot of ups and downs, it was the 18-year-old being more solid in the deciding moments. Zverev closed the match after one hour and 39 minutes to set an all-German-affair with Daniel Brands in the second round.
“I have returned to the clay courts for only two days, having only a few practice sessions. As a consequence, it wasn’t an easy first round match and I am happy that I found my rhythm in the final set,” told Zverev after he had returned from Wimbledon, where he made it to the second round. “Of course, I would have loved to stay longer in London, but Brunswick is the best possible alternative and I want to defend my title.”
Alexander Zverev started his title defence in Brunswick
The tournament’s number four Joao Souza took out Alexander Kudryavtsev, winning 6-2, 7-5. The world number 81 from Brazil lost his service only once and capitalized on four of his nine break point opportunities to prevail after one hour and 31 minutes, meeting Horacio Zeballos in the next round. The 30-year-old Argentine saved all three break points he faced to beat German wild card Maximilian Marterer 6-3, 6-4 in 72 minutes.
Taro Daniel, champion of the ATP Challenger in Fürth in May, defeated Tobias Kamke, winning 6-1, 6-4. The 22-year-old Japanese, who practices in Valencia, saved all two break points he faced and capitalized on three of his own to seal victory in one hour and 17 minutes facing Damir Dzumhur in the second round.
Eighth seed Matthias Bachinger beat Russian qualifier Karen Khachanov through a 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour and 18 minutes to face his fellow countryman Nils Langer next. The finalist from last week’s ATP Challenger in Marburg defeated Swedish teenager Elias Ymer 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and 12 minutes.
Matthias Bachinger reached the second round
Daniel Muῆoz de la Nava won the longest match of the day, beating Mischa Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 35 minutes. The 33-year-old Spaniard will face Filip Krajinovic. The world number 122 from Serbia defeated Pere Riba 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 after one hour and 47 minutes.
The match between Jan-Lennard Struff and sixth seed Radu Albot was suspended at 4-6, 7-5, 6-5 for the Moldavian due to severe weather warning.
