Del Potro Challenged By Frenchman In Lyon

Sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro remained perfect against opponents ranked outside the Top 6 of the Emirates ATP Rankings on Tuesday at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Lyon.

The Argentine broke lucky loser Quentin Halys of France four times to advance 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 36 minutes. Del Potro was aced 12 times but won 80 per cent of his first-serve points (35/44) and saved three of four break points against the 20-year-old #NextGenATP Frenchman during their first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.

“He surprised me with his level but I survived, and I am looking forward to playing tomorrow,” said del Potro, who will next face Portuguese qualifier Gastao Elias. “[Lyon] is a magnificent city. I had the chance to walk around and it is really beautiful. I hope to stay many more days here.”

The 6’6″ del Potro improves to 5-1 on clay this season, following his quarter-final run last week at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome (l. to Djokovic). Overall, del Potro, No. 30 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is 11-5 on the year, with his handful of losses coming against Top 6 opponents – Federer, Raonic and three defeats against Djokovic.

Brit Kyle Edmund will face fifth seed Gilles Simon after coming back from a set down to advance past Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Edmund and Simon have split their two FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, with the 22-year-old Edmund taking their most recent contest last June at The Queen’s Club in London.

#NextGenATP Russian Karen Khachanov won nearly 70 per cent of his second-serve return points to advance past Argentina’s Renzo Olivo 6-2, 6-4. Khachanov will next meet Aussie Jordan Thompson.