Ferrer Starts Campaign For Third Bastad Title
Ferrer Starts Campaign For Third Bastad Title
Two-time champion David Ferrer successfully transitioned from grass to clay on Tuesday, beating Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis 6-3, 6-4 to move into the second round at the SkiStar Swedish Open in Bastad.
The eighth-seeded Ferrer, who won the title in 2010 and 2012, is making his 10th appearance in Bastad and improved to 22-7 at the clay-court event. The 35 year old will next meet German Dustin Brown, who defeated Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-3.
Two-time finalist (2013, 2016) Fernando Verdasco saved four of five break points to outlast #NextGenATP Swede Elias Ymer 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours. “I could have been more aggressive but I really felt I played with all my heart,” Ymer said. “I had a lot of energy going into the third set and that is a great feeling, when you know you can play every point with a great mindset and intensity.”
Verdasco is also making his 10th appearance at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament and will next face Argentine Facundo Bagnis, who put an end to Tommy Haas’ last campaign in Bastad, firing eight aces to win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 28 minutes.
Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov celebrated his 200th match win by saving both break points to beat Leonardo Mayer 6-3, 6-2. The 28 year old, who reached a career-high No. 13 Emirates ATP Ranking in 2012, has won three ATP World Tour singles titles. Earlier this year, he defeated World No. 5 Kei Nishikori in the Argentina Open final.
Top seed Pablo Carreno Busta will face Andrey Kuznetsov in his opening match after the Russian defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.
Seventh seed Diego Schwartzman sped into the second round with a 61-minute win over Maximilian Marterer, 6-1, 6-3. Schwartzman’s fellow Argentine Renzo Olivo will be his next opponent after advancing with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Paul-Henri Mathieu.