Seeded players took care of business for the most part on Tuesday at the bet-at-home Open and the Claro Open Colombia. They compiled a 5-1 record and were one point away from being a perfect 6-0, as the lone blemish came when Marcel Granollers missed a match point in his second-round showdown against Dominic Thiem and eventually succumbed 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 after leading 5-2 in the third set.
Hamburg summary
Thiem and Granollers provided the most drama of the day, with Thiem’s comeback victory highlighted by the match-point save that came at 3-5 in the decider. Two other matches went to third sets, but none were closer than 6-2 in the final frame. No. 1 seed David Ferrer needed three to get past Mikhail Kukushkin 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and Martin Klizan held off Igor Sijsling 6-4, 3-6, 6-0. One of the day’s more notable results was also an encouraging one for the host nation. Alexander Zverev, the 17-year-old brother of Mischa Zverev and seventh-ranked junior in the world, crushed Robin Haase 6-2, 6-0. It was Zverev’s first ATP-level victory of his young career.
“Winning my first ATP World Tour match in Hamburg, in front of a home crowd, was special,” Zverev assured. “I had the feeling that the crowd was behind me. [Haase] played well in the second set, but once I got the break I played better.”
Bogota summary
Samuel Groth, who cracked the Top 100 (No. 99) for the first time this week, maintained his fine form by working overtime and edging Juan Sebastian Cabal 6-3, 6-7(10), 7-6(4). Groth is joined in the second by Thiemo De Bakker, Dudi Sela, and Colombian seeds Alejandro Falla and Alejandro Gonzalez. Falla had no trouble with Tatsuma Ito, while Gonzalez treated the home crowd to a nail-biting 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 defeat of Evgeny Donskoy.
Briefs
* Robredo wins all-Spanish clash with Gimeno-Traver, projected to climb at least to No. 18.
* Giraldo handles Paire, one more win could be enough for top 30.
* Zverev earns first ATP victory, will soar approximately 32 places to 253rd.
* Rosol gets retirement from Reister, must reach quarterfinals for top 40.
* Thiem saves match point to upset Granollers, will crack top 50 for first time.
* Klizan bagels Sijsling in third set, appears to be lock for top 50.
* Gonzalez edges Donskoy, needs two more victories to reach top 70.
* Groth survives Cabal in third-set ‘breaker, will surge into top 90.
* Sela takes care of Arguello, eases into top 100 and likely even top 90.
Topics: Alejandro Falla, Alejandro Gonzalez, Atp, Bet At Home Open, Bogota, Claro Open Colombia, David Ferrer, Dominic Thiem, Marcel Granollers, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Tennis News
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RT @10sBalls_com: MEN’S TOUR NEWS FROM TUESDAY IN HAMBURG AND BOGOTA BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/9hztSPDkAI #Bogota #Hamburg #tennis #Cl…