Leonardo Mayer falls in Bastad; Vasek Popisil sets up Mischa Zverev clash in Newport

Matteo Berrettini celebrates

Sixth seed Leonardo Mayer fell at the first hurdle at the Swedish Open as he went down to Matteo Berrettini.

The Argentine made a good start on the clay as he won the first set, but then fell to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat at the hands of Berrettini.

The Italian will face either Gastao Elias from Portugal or Argentine Juan Londero in the second round.

In the only other match on the opening day in Bstaad, Casper Ruud also came from a set down to see off Jaume Munar 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-0 in two hours and 38 minutes.

Next up for Norwegian Ruud is either three-time Bastad champion David Ferrer or Spanish qualifier Zdenek Kolar.

Meanwhile on the grass at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, Canadian Vasek Pospisil was too strong for American Donald Young as he secured a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory.

Pospisil’s reward is a second-round encounter against second seed Mischa Zverev.

“It was a tough one, tough conditions. It’s pretty hot,” he said. “I’ve worked hard this year trying to build my [ATP] Ranking back up, so this is just another little stepping zone just trying to get some confidence for the hard-court season.

“This will do me really good to get this win. I can really take a lot of positives out of this.”

Meanwhile, eighth-seeded American Denis Kudla claimed a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ruben Bemelmans from Belgium.

Tim Smyczek won an all-American tie against Bjorn Fratangelo 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to book a second-round clash against fourth seed Matthew Ebden.

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