MEERBUSCH, August 14, 2019

Top seed Pedro Sousa opened his title bid at the Tennis Open Stadtwerke Meerbusch on Wednesday with a 6-3, 7-5 second-round win over ITF-entry Karim-Mohamed Maamoun of Egypt.

In front of about 500 spectators at the GWR Büderich, the World No. 148 from Portugal broke his opponent’s serve five times, winning 52 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 25 minutes.

“Although he showed some weaknesses in the second, he will remain one of the top contenders for the title here,” Yonex Tennis Base coach Marius Meiszies commented on Sousa’s performance.

Up next for the 31-year-old from Lisbon will be young Spaniard Javier Barranco Cosano, who defeated Julian Lenz from Germany 7-5, 6-2.

Pedja Krstin, third seed of the €46,600 ATP Challenger clay-court event, also booked his spot in the third round. The 24-year-old from Serbia remained untrobled in his 6-1, 6-4 win over German wild card entry Lucas Gerch. Krstin finished the encounter after one hour and 15 minutes and will next meet Facundo Mena from Argentina.

Jan Choinski edged past Spanish veteran Daniel Munoz de la Nava, winning 6-2, 6-4. The No. 7 seed representing Great Britain capitalized on four of his 11 break point chances to advance after one hour and 35 minutes. Choinski will next face 10th favourite Aslan Karatsev of Russia.

Carlos Taberner fought past No. 4 seeded Frenchman Tristan Lamasine, rallying 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2. The 22-year-old from Spain sent down six aces, winning 70 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after two hours and 33 minutes. Taberner set a third-round clash with Germany’s Benjamin Hassan, 16th seed of the tournament.