JUST eight Round of 32 matches have played out across the Rotterdam and Argentina ATP 250 tournaments on the official first day of competition at both events, with plenty of interesting results at each of the two fields.

At Rotterdam, two former champions found their form as Kei Nishikori disposed of Canadian seventh seed Felix Auger Aliassime, whilst Andy Murray was one of two Brits to proceed to the second round after defeating fellow wildcard Robin Haase. Nishikori was challenged by the upcoming Canadian in his encounter with Auger Aliassime, with a tough first set testing the Japanese talent before handing down a 6-1 second set to reign supreme in straight sets, in 98 minutes. Whilst Auger Aliassime putt his serve to good use with seven aces, he could not rely on his first serve with an 83 per cent winning rate (24/29) off just a 54 per cent clip. Comparatively, Nishikori was cleaner on serve with an 85 per cent first serve win rate (41/48) off a 74 per cent clip.

Murray had a slow start to his encounter with his Dutch opposition in Haase, before overcoming a tough tiebreaker to come from behind during the second set and use his wealth of experience to reign supreme in the third, 2-6 7-6 6-3. Murray was marginally cleaner in the matchup, with six aces to two double faults compared to Haase’s nine and four. Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie coasted through in an upset over Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, winning 6-0 6-3 in just 63 minutes. With his service game on show and a 59 per cent winning rate on return, Norrie could not be stopped in the matchup.

At time of publishing, the tight battle between Marton Fucsovics and Reilly Opelka remains tough to predict with neither player able to break their opposition, after Fucsovics came away with the first set 7-6 and, despite breaking serve in the second at 5-3, the second set tiebreaker went the way of Opelka, with the third set about to begin at time of publishing.

ROTTERDAM OPEN ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[W] Andy Murray (GBR) defeated [W] Robin Haase (NED) 2-6 7-6 6-3
Kei Nishikori (JPN) defeated [7] Felix Auger Aliassime (CAN) 7-6 6-1
[Q] Cameron Norrie (GBR) defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-0 6-3
[Q] Marton Fucsovics (HUN) v. Reilly Opelka (USA)

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In Buenos Aires, it was the seeded players who proceeded in convincing fashion, with sixth seed Pablo Andujar and seventh seed Laslo Djere both disposing of their opposition, though Djere arguably had the tougher time of it after a real challenge from Marco Cecchinato in the first set. Whilst Djere eventually reigned supreme in just over two and a quarter hours, the early contest was anything but easy as the pair traded blows in a 7-6(4) first set. However, Djere managed to steal away momentum in the second and continue that form in the third to run away with the 6-7 6-2 6-3 victory, credit to his improved 68 per cent second serve winning rate, compared to Cecchinato’s lower 40 per cent accuracy. Comparatively, Andujar swept past his Argentinian opposition in Juan Ignacio Londero 6-3 6-0 in just over an hour and a half, credit to his serving efficiency and ability to win off Londero’s serve.

In the remaining matches, German Dominik Koepfer disposed of a second Argentinian competitor in Thiago Agustin Tirante, well and truly tested in the first set by the wildcard, before completing the match strongly to come out 2-6 6-3 6-4 victor in one hour and 51 minutes, whilst the final matchup of the day in Argentina between Roberto Carballes Baena and Thiago Monteiro is yet to begin at time of publishing.

ARGENTINA OPEN ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[6] Pablo Andujar (ESP) defeated Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) 6-3 6-0
[7] Laslo Djere (SRB) defeated Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 6-7 6-2 6-3
Dominik Koepfer (GER) defeated [W] Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG) 2-6 6-3 6-4
Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) v. Thiago Monteiro (BRA)