#NextGenATP Santillan Celebrates Milestone Win

#NextGenATP Aussie Akira Santillan made it look easy. Going for his first ATP World Tour win, the 20-year-old right-hander dismissed #NextGenATP American Michael Mmoh 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday at the Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open in Newport.

6 Things To Know About Santillan

Santillan won 77 per cent of his first-serve points and broke the 19-year-old Mmoh five times to advance in 53 minutes. The Brisbane resident, fresh off his first ATP Challenger Tour title on Sunday in Winnetka, had been 0-4 in ATP World Tour matches. He will face American Bjorn Fratangelo in the second round.

Expect a lot of aces when Aussie Sam Groth meets top seed John Isner in the second round. Groth set-up the clash by saving a match point and beating qualifier Austin Krajicek of the U.S. 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 6-3. The 6’4” Groth was down 30/40, 5-6 in the second set.

“I snuck a volley over the net there. Quite often in Newport, it’s a bit throwback grass court, so quite often making that first volley is enough, and thankfully on that point it was,” said Groth, who finished with 23 aces.

Sixth seed Lukas Lacko of Slovakia overcame #NextGenATP Reilly Opelka of the U.S. 7-6(7), 6-4. He will next meet Aussie qualifier Matthew Ebden, who needed 65 minutes to prevail against American wild card Rajeev Ram 6-1, 6-4.

After the match, the 33-year-old Ram said the contest was likely his final singles match. Ram’s two ATP World Tour singles titles came at Newport (2009, 2015).

“I’ve played this tournament every year of my career since 2004. There’s no better way to cap it off, if it is my last singles match, to play here. Unfortunately it didn’t go my way but that’s besides the point. I’ve had so many great memories here over the years,” Ram said.

Konstantin Kravchuk picked up his first grass-court win, 6-4, 6-4, against fifth seed Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic. The Russian will next face German Peter Gojowczyk.