ESTORIL, May 1, 2019

Jeremy Chardy headlined Tuesday’s first-round action at the Millennium Estoril Open, knocking out 2017 champion and No. 7 seed Pablo Carreno Busta from Spain. The 32-year-old from France came back from set down to secure a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Chardy struck 10 aces, winning 68 per cent of his first service points to prevail after two hours and five minutes.

“Pablo is a very good player, especially on clay,” Chardy said. “I knew that it will be a tough match but after a close first set, I found my rhythm and I am really happy with the win.”

Chardy will next play #NextGenATP Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who secured his first match win on the ATP Tour. The 19-year-old qualifier beat US-American Taylor Fritz 7-6(3), 6-4 in one hour and 26 minutes.

For Carreno Busta it was the first time losing in Estoril before the semi-finals. “It’s not easy to come back to the tour after a couple of weeks without playing matches.”

The 27-year-old Spaniard is playing his only fourth tournament of the season due to a shoulder injury. “It was a complicated injury and I wasn’t able to compete at highest level. I returned to the courts in Barcelona last week, which was a start to get back to competition but I still need to play more matches to get back to my best.”

John Millman cruised past fellow Australian Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-0. The 29-year-old from Brisbane won 63 per cent of the total points played to advance in only 51 minutes.

“I am really happy to get through my match,” Millman said. “It is always tricky when you play a fellow countryman but I feel really comfortable here in Estoril. The atmosphere the tournament’s creates is very nice and I am happy to extend my stay here.”

Next up for Millman will be local favourite Joao Domingues. “I watched him a bit yesterday and it was a high-quality match against de Minaur and he deserved to win,” Millman said on his upcoming opponent. “I am well awared that he plays on a very good level, probably appreciates the home crowd support. It is going to be a tricky match.”

Photo Gallery (by Brigitte Urban):