Johnson Escapes In Upset-Filled Day In Geneva

Houston champion Steve Johnson avoided the upset bug on Tuesday, a day filled with them at the Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open. The sixth-seeded American beat Romanian Marius Copil 7-6(4), 6-3.

Johnson hit 11 aces and escaped danger regularly on his serve, saving eight of nine break points. Johnson will face Czech right-hander Lukas Rosol in the second round. Rosol saved two match points to beat countryman Jiri Vesely 2-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4). The 32-year-old trailed by a set and 4/6 in the second-set tie-break before rallying to victory in two hours and 15 minutes.

German Peter Gojowczyk picked up his 15th win of the season by beating fourth seed David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4. Gojowczyk hit eight aces and saved both break points his Spanish opponent created during the 75-minute match. The German will meet Italy’s Andreas Seppi or Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles for a place in the semi-finals.

Marton Fucsovics of Hungary also defeated seeded opposition from Spain, racing past fifth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-2. Fucsovics won 70 per cent of first-serve points and saved all five break points he faced in the 80-minute first-round clash. The Hungarian No. 1 will meet #NextGenATP American Frances Tiafoe in the second round.

Two-time defending champion Stan Wawrinka was scheduled to make his return to Geneva on Tuesday against Jared Donaldson of the U.S., but rain postponed their second-round match until Wednesday.

View Wednesday’s Geneva Schedule