7/27/2022 9:56:28 PM EST
Three seeded Americans recorded straight-set victories to easily advance at the Atlanta Open on Wednesday in Georgia. Fourth-seeded Frances Tiafoe cruised past Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel 7-5, 6-4, No. 5 Tommy Paul easily dispatched Soonwoo Kwon of South Korea 6-3, 6-3, and No. 8 Brandon Nakashima ousted Australian John Millman 7-6 (8), 6-4. A fourth, Reilly Opelka, was forced to withdraw from the tournament with an injury. Lucky loser Sean Johnson of the United States took his spot and lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to Belarusian Ilya Ivashka. Generali OpenSerbia's Dusan Lajovic advanced by upsetting No. 4 Aslan Karatsev of Russia 7-5, 6-3 in Kitzbuhel, Austria. Three of four Spaniards who played won their matches in straight sets. Third-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut soared past wild card Jurij Rodionov of Austria 6-1, 6-4, Albert Ramos-Vinolas handled Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3, 6-4, and Pedro Martinez buzzed by Federico Coria of Argentina 6-4, 6-3. Pablo Andujar was the only Spaniard to suffer defeat, falling to Austrian wild card Filip Misolic 6-4, 6-0. In an all-Austrian match, Dominic Thiem, who is playing on a protected ranking, got by qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Other results included Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic besting eighth-seeded Joao Sousa of Portugal 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-3, and German Yannick Hanfmann taking down Russian Ivan Gokhav 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4. Croatia Open UmagSpaniards Bernabe Zapata Miralles and Roberto Carballes Baena both managed to pull off upsets in their respective matches in Umag, Croatia. Zapata Miralles battled back to edge third-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, while Carballes Baena followed a similar path to best No. 5 Alex Molcan of Slovakia. Second-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner bested Spain's Jaume Munar in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. His fellow countryman, qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, also earned a win, defeating Colombia's Daniel Elahi Galan 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. --Field Level Media