APTOS, August 6, 2018
Four qualifiers have completed the main draw of the Nordic Naturals Challenger on Sunday. Marcos Giron from the United States upset No. 1 seed Yosuke Watanuki of Japan 7-6(6), 6-4. The World No. 371 outpointed his opponent 95-82 to prevail in one hour and 54 minutes.
Giron will take on compatriot Tommy Paul in the opening round of the main draw. He will be joined by Alexander Ward from Great Britain, who will face US-American Christopher Eubanks in the first round. Luke Saville of Australia also qualified and will next challenge JC Aragone from the United States. Aleksander Vukic completet the quartet and will next play US-American Kevin King.
Fabbiano – the tournament’s top seed
With the start of the main draw on Monday, a lot of top talent will be ready to face off for the $100,000 prize. Top seed Thomas Fabbiano of Italy will open his title bid against Miomir Kecmanovic from Serbia. Fabbiano has a career high ranking of World No. 70, and has reached the third round in both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.
The 29-year-old is also a strong hard court player, and has done well with ATP Challengers in the past. Fabbiano has won five Challengers in singles, all on hard court, so the odds are in his favor being the top seeded player of this hard-court event.
On the opposing side, Kecmanovic has displayed his abilities at an early age, being only 18 and already having a career high ranking of World No. 176. Kecmanovic is the youngest Serbian to crack the top 200 since Novak Djokovic in 2004. In October of 2017, Kecmanovic won his first Challenger at the China International, Suzhou, and his hoping to do the same at the Seascape Sports Club.
RESULTS – AUGUST 05, 2018
Qualifying Singles – Third Round
Qualifying – [7] M. Giron (USA) d [1] Y. Watanuki (JPN) 76(6) 64
Qualifying – [8] L. Saville (AUS) d [2] D. Evans (GBR) 76(6) 62
Qualifying – [3] A. Ward (GBR) d L. Gomez (MEX) 64 60
Qualifying – [6] A. Vukic (AUS) d [4] A. Sarkissian (USA) 75 62
Qualifying Doubles – First Round
Qualifying – T. Fancutt (AUS) / A. Vukic (AUS) d [2] H. Craig (USA) / M. Seemann (USA) 63 46 10-2
