CALGARY, February 27, 2020
Following last week’s tournament in Drummondville, the ATP Challenger indoor swing in Canada continues this week with the second edition of the Calgary National Bank Challenger, held at the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre in Calgary.
Kacper Zuk headlined Tuesday’s second-round action by knocking out home favourite and top seed of the $81,240 hard-court event Vasek Pospisil. The 21-year-old, who was a member of the Czech team at this year’s ATP Cup, withstood 17 aces from Pospisil and broke his opponent’s serve three times to secure a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory in one hour and 44 minutes.
Have a day, Kacper Żuk!
One month after stunning Dennis Novak at the @ATPCup, the 21-year-old 🇵🇱 earns his biggest victory over top seed Vasek Pospisil in Calgary. pic.twitter.com/rQm8YSMgOA
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 27, 2020
“It’s a great feeling and (the win) means a lot to me,” Zuk told Josh Meiseles from the ATP after his first win over a Top 100 player. “I’m looking forward to have some more good matches against big guys like him. I hope that I can play in the third round as good as I did today.”
Zuk, a four-time singles champion on the ITF World Tennis Tour, will next take on No. 13 seed JC Aragone from the United States, who cruised past US-American qualifier Felix Corwin 6-2, 6-1 in only 55 minutes.
No. 2 seed Go Soeda also fell in the second round. The World No. 118 from Japan lost to qualifier Alex Rybakov from the United States 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 7-6(2). In a hard-fought match without any breaks, the 23-year-old from Coral Springs, Florida outpointed his rival 124-115 after two hours and 46 minutes. Up next for Rybakov will be No. 15 seed Goncalo Oliveira of Portugal.
RESULTS – FEBRUARY 26, 2020
Singles – Second Round
K. Zuk (POL) d [1] V. Pospisil (CAN) 64 46 64
[Q] A. Rybakov (USA) d [2] G. Soeda (JPN) 76(4) 67(5) 76(2)
[5] B. Schnur (CAN) d [PR] B. Mott (AUS) 64 64
A. Dougaz (TUN) d [6] T. Kwiatkowski (USA) 46 63 76(6)
[7] L. Broady (GBR) d G. Brymer (USA) 61 75
[8] A. Rinderknech (FRA) d C. Altamirano (USA) 36 63 63
[9] J. Lenz (GER) d S. Imai (JPN) 63 36 76(3)
[10] M. Cressy (USA) d P. Niklas-Salminen (FIN) 63 62
[13] J. Aragone (USA) d [Q] F. Corwin (USA) 62 61
[15] G. Oliveira (POR) d M. Descotte (ARG) 64 64
Doubles – First Round
M. Guinard (FRA) / A. Rinderknech (FRA) d [1] E. King (USA) / H. Reese (USA) 26 62 10-4
[2] K. Drzewiecki (POL) / G. Oliveira (POR) d G. Blancaneaux (FRA) / J. Grills (AUS) 64 62
[Alt] F. Corwin (USA) / R. Peniston (GBR) d A. Dougaz (TUN) / S. Mansouri (TUN) 60 63
H. Bourchier (AUS) / F. Peliwo (CAN) d B. Lock (ZIM) / C. Lock (ZIM) 46 63 10-8
