Davidovich Fokina Survives Santiago Scare

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina came within two points of defeat on Tuesday, before claiming a 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory against Andrej Martin at the Chile Dove Men+Care Open.

The #NextGenATP Spaniard, who trailed Martin 5/4 in the second-set tie-break, saved eight of 11 break points to record his second tour-level win of the year. It is Davidovich Fokina’s first victory since reaching the Australian Open second round last month.

The 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier will meet top seed Cristian Garin in the second round. Garin enters his home tournament on a nine-match winning streak, following title runs in Cordoba and Rio de Janeiro.

Juan Ignacio Londero headlined the night session with a 6-4, 6-2 win in his all-Argentine clash with Federico Coria. The fifth seed moved to 6-3 during the Latin Swing and set up a second-round clash with #NextGenATP Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Seventh seed Federico Delbonis reached the second round at an ATP Tour event in South America for the third straight week, beating Martin Klizan 6-1, 7-6(5). The Argentine will face Salvatore Caruso for a spot in the quarter-finals. Caruso beat Jozef Kovalik of Slovakia 6-2, 6-3 in 79 minutes.

Eighth seed Thiago Monteiro rallied from a set down to defeat Leonardo Mayer 6-7(0), 6-3, 6-4. The Brazilian saved each of the five break points he faced and will meet Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round. Carballes Baena overcame countryman Jaume Munar 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in his opening-round match on Monday.

Alejandro Tabilo delighted the home crowd with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Italian Paolo Lorenzi. The 22-year-old has jumped more than 420 spots in the FedEx ATP Rankings over the past 12 months and sits at a career-high standing of No. 166. Next up for Tabilo is second-seeded Norwegian Casper Ruud, who captured his maiden ATP Tour crown two weeks ago in Buenos Aires (d. Sousa).