#NextGen Star Coric Through To Second Round In Estoril

#NextGen star Borna Coric kept up his good start to the clay-court season on Monday, beating qualifier Andrea Arnaboldi of Italy 6-4, 6-1 at the Millennium Estoril Open. Coric, who made the final at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech earlier this month, erased the only break point he faced during his first-round match in Portugal.

The Croat also broke his opponent five times during the one-hour and 18-minute contest. The No. 6 seed will face German Benjamin Becker or Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva in the second round.

No. 7 seed Leonardo Mayer, the other singles seed in action on Monday, had similar luck against a home underdog, World No. 368 Pedro Sousa, who received a wild card into the tournament. The Argentine needed one hour and 20 minutes to dismiss Sousa 6-1, 6-4. Mayer next will play Italian Paolo Lorenzi or #NextGen star Elias Ymer of Sweden, who qualified for the event.

Nicolas Almagro also started another clay-court event well with a straight-set win against Frederico Ferreira Silva 6-3, 6-2. Almagro reached the final of the Argentina Open earlier this year before losing to Austrian Dominic Thiem. The Spaniard will face a home favourite in the second round, No. 4 seed Joao Sousa of Portugal. It will be their first meeting.

Qualifier Stephane Robert of France persisted through another round, beating Thomas Fabbiano of Italy 6-2, 6-2. The 35 year old next will play either German Michael Berrer or No. 5 seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.