Spanish pair David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco win in Bastad
Defending champion David Ferrer kicked off his Swedish Open campaign with a win while fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco also advanced.
Ferrer, who is looking for his fourth title in Bastad, secured a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Zdenek Kolar, who was making his ATP Tour debut.
Verdasco took two hours and nine minutes to see off Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 and set up a second-round encounter against Pedro Sousa, who beat Radu Albot 6-4, 6-3.
Italian Simone Bolelli earned himself a clash against top seed Diego Schwartzman after he came from a set down to beat Roberto Carballes 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Federico Delbonis won an all-Argentine tie as he beat his compatriot Horacio Zeballos 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 6-2. He will take on John Millman next after the Australian steamrolled Guido Andreozzi 6-0, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Denis Istomin set up a clash against third seed Fabio Fognini with a solid 6-3, 6-3 victory over Swedish wild card Mikael Ymer.
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