Khachanov/Rublev Make Winning Start In Beijing

Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev are up and running at the China Open after defeating wild cards Jie Cui and Aoran Wang 6-4, 7-5 in the first round.

Khachanov and Rublev, who won the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid this season, won 32 of their 40 first-serve points and saved all six break points faced to secure victory in Beijing. They will next meet qualifiers Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler, who downed three seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 6-4, 6-4.

Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev also advanced after they survived Marcelo Arevalo and Nikola Mektic 2-6, 6-3, 11-9. The Brazilian-German duo will next face top seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek or Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.

Pavic/Peers Reach Astana Second Round
Fourth seeds Mate Pavic and John Peers moved past Marton Fucsovics and Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6(2) in the Astana Open first round. The Croatian-Australian pair are partnering for the first time this week.

Frenchmen Gregoire Barrere and Adrian Mannarino cruised past wild cards Alexander Bublik and Daniil Golubev 6-2, 6-2. Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov defeated Sebastian Baez and Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3, 6-2.