POTCHEFSTROOM, February 8, 2021 (TSA Press Release)

South Africa’s Vaughn Hunter and Robbie Arends bowed out of the Potch Open singles event at the North-West University in Potchefstroom after losing their first round matches on Monday.

Twenty-six-year-old Hunter, who was awarded a wild card into the ATP Challenger 80 event, took the match all the way against French World No. 246 Tristan Lamasine but could not get over the line in the final set.

In a match rich in powerful hitting and tight angles, Lamasine clinched the first set in a tie-break 7-6(1) but the hardy South African fought back in the second, claiming it 6-1.

The final set saw dazzling shots from both players, including some scintillating drop shots from Lamasine who eventually bagged the third set to win the match 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-1 after one hour and 41 minutes.

Nineteen-year-old Arends, who also received a wild card entry into the event, was the second South African to get knocked out of the tournament on Centre Court. Arends lost in straights sets 6-2 6-2 to Roberto Quiroz of Ecuador.

Rising South African star [WC]Robbie Arends loses 6-2 6-2 against Ecuador’s Ronerto Quiroz in the Potch Open, @ATPChallenger 80 first round main draw.#PotchOpen | #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/jKlOY7ThzZ

— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) February 8, 2021

The only South African player left in the Potch Open singles event, Kholo Montsi, will get his campaign underway on Tuesday morning. The 18-year-old will face Belgian Julien Cagnina.

Other players in action on Monday included unseeded Frenchman Hugo Grenier, who upset Swiss third seed and World No. 148 Marc-Andrea Huesler 7-6(5) 7-5 to advance to the second round.

Canada’s No. 7 seed Peter Polansky battled past Viktor Galovic of Croatia 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(2) to advance.

Results

Singles

First Round

Hugo Grenier (FRA) bt 3-Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI) 7-6(5) 7-5

7-Peter Polansky (CAN) bt Viktor Galovic (CRO) 6-2 3-6 7-6(2)

Tristan Lamasine (FRA) bt WC-Vaughn Hunter (RSA) 7-6(1) 1-6 6-1

Roberto Quiroz (ECU) bt WC-Robbie Arends (RSA) 6-2 6-2