ATP Buenos Aires: Casper Ruud, Pablo Cuevas, Thiago Monteiro make winning start

The 8th seed Casper Ruud is off to a winning start in Buenos Aires, ousting Pablo Andujar 6-2, 6-3 in 72 minutes. The Norwegian had the upper hand in his games, losing 16 points in nine service games and never experiencing a break point to mount the pressure on the other side of the court. Andujar couldn't match those numbers in his games, getting broken three times from seven opportunities offered to the youngster and finishing his run in the first round. Casper settled into an excellent rhythm right from the start, earning a break at 15 in game two after a double fault from the Spaniard, confirming the break with a forehand winner in game three that sent him 3-0 up. Pablo suffered another break at 2-5, netting as forehand and allowing the rival to claim the opener in no time at all. Just like in the opener, Andujar got broken in the second game of the second set following another double fault, falling further behind and allowing Ruud to move over the top with a service winner at 5-3 for the place in the second round.

Pablo Cuevas defeated Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 37 minutes, repelling all three break chances and earning one break in each set to find himself in the last 16. The Uruguayan sailed through his service games in the opener, delivering a break in game seven to claim it three games later after a hold at 15. Returners had their chances in set number two and it was Cuevas who scored a break at 4-4, fending off two break chances in the next game to seal the deal and make a positive start. Thiago Monteiro proved to be too strong for Jaume Munar, defeating the Spaniard 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 41 minutes for his first ATP victory of the season on clay, already conquering a Challenger title two weeks ago. Dominating with his first serve, the Brazilian also struggled big time on the second, facing 11 break chances and fending off ten of those to limit the damage behind the initial shot and forcing Munar to repeat that to stay in touch.

Jaume also played against 11 break points, getting broken four times to propel the opponent through and experience the fourth loss of the season. Monteiro broke already in the second game of the encounter, erasing five break chances in the next game and closing the opener with a commanding hold at 5-3. The second set offered plenty of opportunities for both and it was the Brazilian who earned three breaks that kept him safe despite a fearsome battle in the last 15 minutes. In the longest match of the day, Federico Delbonis toppled Hugo Dellien 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in just under two hours, bouncing back after losing five straight games in the decider (had a 4-0 advantage) and taking the last three games to emerge at the top and stay on the title course in front of the home fans. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2UGnePD