Mayer Rolls, Bedene's Birthday Spoiled In Umag

Argentine Leonardo Mayer won 10 of the final 12 games against home favourite Nikola Mektic to move into the second round 7-5, 6-2 on Monday at the Konzum Croatia Open Umag.

Mayer was down 3-5 in the first set and Mektic was serving, but the 29-year-old Buenos Aires resident broke Mektic twice to take the first set. He’d break him two more times in the second set to win their first meeting in one hour and 27 minutes.

Mayer, who reached a career high No. 21 in the Emirates ATP Rankings last year, entered the clay on Umag at No. 117. The 2014 Hamburg titlist has had to withdraw from four tournaments this season because of tendonitis in his serving shoulder. He next will face second seed Joao Sousa. Mayer won their prior meeting in 2014 on clay in Portugal.

Serbian qualifier Nikola Cacic spoiled Aljaz Bedene’s 27^th birthday by upsetting the Brit 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 27 minutes. The 25-year-old Cacic, No. 761 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, next will face third seed Jeremy Chardy of France.

In the lone doubles contest, second seeds American Nicholas Monroe and Kiwi Artem Sitak swept Croat wild cards Dino Marcan and Ante Pavic 6-2, 6-1.