Brown Upsets Istomin, Molleker Ousts Robredo At Roland Garros

Dustin Brown has not competed in a Grand Slam main draw since the 2018 Australian Open, but the always-entertaining German made a good start towards changing that on Monday, upsetting second seed Denis Istomin 7-6(5), 6-1 to reach the second round of Roland Garros qualifying.

The 34-year-old, who has climbed as high as No. 64 in the ATP Rankings, has not played a tour-level match this year. But the eight-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist did well to win the Mouratoglou Open, a Challenger event held in April at Sophia Antipolis, France.

In the second round of qualifying. Brown will play Ecuador’s Emilio Gomez, who beat Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Taver 6-4, 6-1. Gomez claimed his first Challenger trophy in April, triumphing in Tallahassee, Florida, dropping just one set in six matches.

#NextGenATP German Rudolf Molleker ousted former World No. 5 Tommy Robredo 7-6(5), 6-3. The 18-year-old qualified for the Australian Open earlier this year, and he is trying to reach the main draw at Roland Garros in his first appearance.

Eight Frenchmen moved on during the first day of qualifying action on the Parisian terre battue. And one of those winners was Hugo Gaston, who defeated 25th seed Marco Trungelliti 6-4, 6-1. One year ago, Trungelliti gained notoriety after a 10-hour mad dash from Barcelona, where he resides, to take a lucky loser spot in the main draw in Paris.

#NextGenATP Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina continued his strong form with a 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 win against Brit Jay Clarke. Davidovich-Fokina qualified at the Millennium Estoril Open and advanced to the semi-finals, ultimately falling in three sets against Pablo Cuevas.

The most emphatic victory of the day went to American Marcos Giron, who blitzed countryman Donald Young 6-0, 6-1.