MEMPHIS, February 14, 2017
Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka became the first player to score a main draw win at the 2017 Memphis Open presented by ServiceMaster. On Monday, the left-handed 21-year-old from Mie needed one break in the first set and then after an exchange of breaks in the second he scored one more break to secure a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Guillermo Garcia-López from Spain.
“We didn’t know each other that much, but he has great forehand and he likes long rallies,” Nishioka said after the one hour and 32 minutes encounter. “I tried to feel good on the court and I played very solid.”
Damir Dzumhur withstood 21 aces and rallied from a set and a break down to defeat former finalist Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. The 24-year-old from Bosnia and Herzegovina finished the encounter after two hours and 36 minutes. He will next face either US-American Ryan Harrison or Konstantin Kravchuk from Russia.
Donald Young advanced to the second round and scored his second win from three matches with sixth seed Adrian Mannarino 3-6, 7-5, 7-6. The last time Young defeated the Frenchman was at this tournament in 2015. Next up for the US-American will be Reilly Opelka, who beat fellow countryman Jared Donaldson in the final singles match of the evening 6-1, 7-5.
The 19-year-old wild card won 73 per cent of his first service points and capitalized on all of his four break point chances to secure victory in one hour and 10 minutes.
“Pretty lucky. Definitely a lot of luck. I served well,” Opelka said.
In doubles action US-Americans Ryan Harrison and Steve Johnson defeated wild cards and University of Memphis players Cedric De Zutter of Belgium and Connor Glennon 6-2, 6-3.
Coming up on day two will be fifth seeded Aussie Bernard Tomic on Stadium against Barbados qualifier Darian King and at night 2016 finalist Taylor Fritz faces eighth seed Yen-Hsun Lu. In an all-US-American contest, Frances Tiafoe takes on Tim Smyczek. Singles action on Grandstand places qualifiers Matthew Ebden against Peter Polanski and 2008 winner Steve Darcis plays Radu Albot.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Second favourite John Isner: “I’ve loved playing this tournament throughout my career. Coming back here was a pretty easy decision for me. I think all Americans love this tournament — we cherish the events we get to play in our home country.”
ACTIVITY OF THE DAY: Eight players from the Memphis Open presented by ServiceMaster visited St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Robert Lindstedt, Joe Salisbury, David O’Hare, Connor Glennon, James McGee, Michael Venus, Brian Baker and Philipp Oswald brought smiles to the kids’ faces, took pictures with them and signed autographs.
