Alexei Popyrin has made a very good begin to the Srpska Open, defeating Dutch fifth-seed Tallon Griekspoor.
The one Australian competing within the ATP 250 occasion in Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 81-ranked Popyrin beat the world No.34 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4).
Popyrin now performs Slovakian Alex Molcan, 73rd on the earth, who got here again from dropping the primary set to defeat Japan’s Taro Daniel 3-6 7-5 6-1.
Veteran Stan Wawrinka, now 38, was denied a second spherical assembly with previous foe Novak Djokovic, whom he defeated twice in grand slam finals, when he misplaced to French teenager Luca Van Assche 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) 6 -4. The 18-year-old now faces No.1 seed Djokovic for the primary time.
Australian curiosity in one other ATP 250 occasion in Munich is over after Jordan Thompson misplaced to qualifier Flavio Cobolli within the opening spherical. On his first outing within the European clay-court swing this yr, Thompson was crushed 7-5 6-1 by the 208-ranked, 20-year-old Italian.
Two Aussies are within the draw on the ATP 500 Barcelona Open. Jason Kubler performs his first spherical match towards wild card Daniel Rincon on Tuesday (early Wednesday AEST) whereas nationwide No.1 Alex de Minaur has been given a bye into the second spherical.
Monday’s play in Catalonia introduced victories for younger American Ben Shelton, Finn Emil Ruusuvuori over Alexander Bublik, Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina and Nuno Borges of Portugal. Borges will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz within the subsequent spherical.
