MOUILLERON-LE-CAPTIF, October 6, 2021
Dennis Novak headlined Wednesday’s first-round action at the €66,640 Open de Vendée ATP Challenger Tour tournament in Mouilleron-Le-Captif, France by knocking out the tournament’s No. 3 seed Peter Gojowczyk from Germany.
The World No. 111 from Austria saved five of the six break points he faced and capitalized on three of his own six break-point opportunities to secure a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory. Novak, who finished runner-up to Henri Laaksonen at the Open d’Orléans last week, will next take on two-time Open de Vendée champion (2017 and 2018) Elias Ymer of Sweden.
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Qualifier Zizou Bergs continued his fine run of form with a 7-6(2), 6-3 win over 17-year-old local wild card entry Arthur Fils. The 22-year-old Belgian, who is seeking his fourth Challenger trophy of the season, won 57 per cent of the total point played to prevail after one hour and 16 minutes.
Bergs will next play in-form German Mats Moraing, winner of the NÖ Open in Tulln, Austria and runner-up to Benjamin Bonzi at the Open Blot Rennes last month, who received a walkover into the second round from French veteran and No. 5 seed Gilles Simon. The 36-year-old Nice native was forced to withdraw from the match due to back problems.
DERNIÈRE MINUTE 🚨
Gilles Simon se retire de l’Open de Vendée ❌
Blessé au dos, le Français n’est pas en mesure de jouer son match contre Mats Moraing 🤕
L’Allemand est donc qualifié pour le second tour de la 8e édition 💥
Le Français a un message pour vous ⬇️#ODV2021 pic.twitter.com/HCqkf53uJ4
— Open de Vendée (@OpenVendee) October 6, 2021
In other action, seventh seed Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania defeated French qualifier Titouan Droguet 7-6(0), 6-2 in one and a half hour and will next face Frenchman Quentin Halys.
No. 6 seed Pierre-Hugues Herbert emerged victorious from the all-French encounter with wild card entry Kyrian Jacquet, winning 6-1, 6-3 in only 58 minutes. Up next for Herbert will be his compatriot Constant Lestienne.
