Bedene Ousts Pospisil In Chennai

One year after reaching the Chennai Aircel Open final as a qualifier, Great Britain’s Aljaz Bedene began his 2016 campaign on Tuesday by knocking out No. 7 seed Vasek Pospisil. He edged the Canadian 7-5, 7-6(6) in one hour and 46 minutes.

Bedene, currently No. 45 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, will next face Italian Luca Vanni for a place in the quarter-finals at this ATP World Tour 250 tournament. The 30-year-old Vanni beat German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 7-6(5).

Fifth seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez made his way safely into the second round as he came back to defeat Japan’s Taro Daniel 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes. Garcia-Lopez will go for his 250th tour-level win when he next plays Croatian qualifier Ante Pavic.

Sixth seed Gilles Muller fired 19 aces past 19-year-old wild card Karen Khachanov 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes.

Another wild card, 18-year-old Andrey Rublev, overcame qualifier and 2009 runner-up Somdev Devvarman 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Devvarman, 30, has qualified for the Chennai main draw for seven of the past eight years. Rublev goes on to face top seed and three-time champion Stan Wawrinka in the second round.

Earlier in the day, Austin Krajicek saved all three break points he faced to defeat fellow American Rajeev Ram 6-7(0), 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes.