NUSSLOCH, January 24, 2017

The indoor swing of the ITF Pro Circuit in Germany has started into its final week by kicking off main draw action of the $25,000 MLP Cup in Nussloch on Tuesday. Top seed Daniel Masur, who made it to the stage of the final four at the inaugural Koblenz Open last Saturday, opened his title bid with a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win over Takanya Garanganga from Zimbabwe.

At the local Racket Center, the World No. 232 from Germany sent down eight aces, didn’t lose his serve and capitalized on four of his own 10 break point opportunities to advance in one hour and 19 minutes. Next up for Masur will be the winner of the encounter between Vadym Ursu ot the Ukraine and German qualifier Dominik Böhler.

Sixth seed Yannick Hanfmann also made it to the second round. The 25-year-old German defeated Pavel Nejedly from the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 to face fellow countryman Mats Moraing next.

In the opening match of the day, the tournament’s number five Alexey Vatutin eased past German wild card Tim Heger, winning 6-3, 6-1. The World No. 296 from Russia won 86 per cent of his first service points to finish the encounter in only 61 minutes. Vatutin awaits either Alexander Lazarov from Bulgaria or Germany’s Vincent Jaensch-Mueller next.