Lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina played the role of spoiler with a 6-3, 6-3 upset of eighth-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the Hangzhou Open on Thursday in China.
The 22-year-old Czech collected 17 winners and saved the lone break he faced to win in 85 minutes. Berrettini had 15 unforced errors in his return from a 2 1/2-month absence due to injury.
Also on Thursday, qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy rallied to notch a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over defending champion Marin Cilic of Croatia. Italian Giulio Zeppieri breezed to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Fajing Sun of China. Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia 6-2, 6-4.
Chengdu Open
Alexander Shevchenko advanced to the second round after Frenchman Gael Monfils was injured in a fall that forced him to retire from the match in China.
The Kazakhstan native was leading 6-7 (3), 6-3, 1-0 when Monfils departed after rolling his ankle late in the second set. Shevchenko helped Monfils to his feet after the spill, and labeled his 39-year-old foe as his “childhood hero” following the match.
No. 6 seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France and No. 8 Lorenzo Sonego of Italy survived three-setters. Croatia’s Dino Prizmic, Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo and Japan’s Taro Daniel won in straight sets, while qualifier MacKenzie McDonald posted a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp.
–Field Level Media
