Ram Rallies To Stun Fifth Seed In Quito

Rajeev Ram ensured it was a day for the underdogs in the second round of the Ecuador Open on Tuesday. The unseeded American fought back from a set and a break down to stun the No. 5 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3.

Dologopolov, a former World No. 13 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, served for the match after breaking for 6-5 in the second set before Ram swung momentum in his favour to secure his first victory over the Ukrainian.

“I think I was playing quite solid,” Dolgopolov said. “I was serving for the match and got a bit unlucky in that game.

“He played really well and hit a few winners and then it was a tiebreak and he served well. I lost the tiebreak and the third set did not go my way, he was hitting a lot of winners from everywhere.

“He broke straight away to start the third set … it was not easy. I tried to come back after that but it was too late.”

Spanish qualifier Roberto Carballes Baena easily accounted for Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-3, 6-1, while Matthew Ebden, on a protected ranking, fought back to deny Argentina’s Agustin Velotti 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. In an all-Argentine battle, Nicolas Kicker defeated Guido Andreozzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Renzo Olivo was the only seed to advance in Quito. He survived a fight from Ecuadorian wild card Emilio Gomez 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(5).