ATP Atlanta: Opelka tops Bublik. Jack Sock and Grigor Dimitrov bow out
In the battle of the great servers and coevals, Reilly Opelka took down Newport runner-up Alexander Bublik 6-3, 7-6 in an hour and 20 minutes for the 15th victory in 2019. The American fired 17 aces and lost only 14 points behind the initial shot, losing serve once and dominating on the return to create 12 break opportunities. Bublik erased ten of those to stay in contention in set number two but it wasn't enough at least for a set, unable to continue where he left in Newport. Opelka had everything under control in his games in the first set, seeking that one break that would push him in front and grabbing it at 4-3, converting the ninth chance and sealing the opener with a hold at 15 in the next game for a 6-3. Reilly opened a 3-1 advantage in set number two before getting broken at love two games later, allowing Bublik to level the score and fend off two break points at 4-4 to reach a tie break that Opelka claimed 7-1 with three mini-breaks to set the second-round clash with John Isner.
Daniel Evans needed just 57 minutes to dismiss Jason Jung 6-1, 6-1, dropping seven points in his games to stay safe and stealing almost 60% of the return points for five breaks and the upper hand from start to finish, reaching the last 16 in style. Radu Albot prevailed against Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 38 minutes, repelling eight out of ten break points and delivering three breaks from as many chances to move over the top first. They traded breaks at the beginning of the match and Radu scored another one in game nine, taking the last three games for a 6-4. The American was 3-0 in front in set number two but he was about to lose the advantage vert soon, with Albot breaking back in game five and surviving a tough service game after that to reach a tie break that he won 7-4 to march into the second round.
Matthew Ebden took down Kamil Majchrzak 7-6, 6-3 while the 8th seed and Newport semi-finalist Ugo Humbert took down a college player with a wild card Cole Gromley 7-6, 6-2 in 75 minutes. The 21-year-old Soonwoo Kwon battled past Prajnesh Gunneswaran 6-7, 7-5, 6-0 for the first win in the ATP tournaments, saving all three break points and finding the way to bring the encounter home after a terrible performance in the pivotal moments in the first part of the clash. Competing for the first time since the Australian Open, Jack Soc lost a tight match against Miomir Kecmanovic who prevailed 7-6, 7-6 in just under two hours. The Serb won three points more than his opponent, exchanging one break and staying neck and neck until the end despite a 5-2 advantage that the youngster had in set number two.
Sock squandered two set points in the first set tie break but overall he should be happy with the way he performed after such a long pause, hoping for better results in the upcoming weeks. Bernard Tomic overcame a slow start to dismiss the 5th seed Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, leaving the American on those two great tournaments so far in 2019 and a string of mediocre results in all the others. The struggling Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov has hit rock bottom again, bowing out 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 45 minutes to world no. 405 Kevin King, playing against surreal 23 break chances and suffering seven breaks of serve in another miserable performance that will send him outside the top-100 if he continues to play like this.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2MaPLc3
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