VIENNA, October 21, 2015

The first round concluded at the Erste Bank Open 500 on Wednesday with fourth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga tested by German wild card Tommy Haas. The world number 10 from France smashed 15 aces and won 84% of his first service points, but Haas was an equal opponent taking the match the distance. Tsonga closed the match after one hour and 53 minutes to seal a 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 victory facing Lukas Rosol next.

“I arrived in Vienna yesterday and I am still struggling with the time change,” told Tsonga, who lost in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai against Novak Djokovic last Sunday. “I am very happy that I could win the match today.”

Second favourite Kevin Anderson advanced to the second round, winning 6-4, 7-5 against Andreas Haider-Maurer. The world number 11 didn’t face a break point, hit 19 aces and finished the encounter after one hour and13 minutes taking on Jiri Vesely next.

Eighth seed Fabio Fognini defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. The world number 22 from Italy saved seven of the ten break points he faced and capitalized on four of his own to prevail in one hour and 50 minutes. Fognini will face Radek Stepanek next.

Ernests Gulbis

The second round began with Ernests Gulbis knocking out third seed John Isner. The 27-year-old Latvian, who snapped a five match losing streak by beating Austrian qualifier Lucas Miedler on Monday, showed some solid tennis against the US-American, hitting a couple of superb backhand shots. Gulbis won 87% of his first service points and closed the match after two hours and three minutes by firing his 23rd ace.