Pedro Martínez, who had already played and won three games in the preliminary phase of Roland Garros, continues his upward progression on the ATP circuit and this Monday he took another step forward by beating Australian Aleksandar Vukic 7-5, 6-4 and 6-0 and qualify for the first time for the second round of the French tournament (last year he fell in the first). The 23-year-old Valencian, a native of Alzira, won his first Grand Slam match this year at the Australian Open and Now he will play another in Paris against Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin, who beat Italian Fabio Fognini, 14th favorite, with a donut included in the last set (7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (1) and 6-0).
With 27 winners and 28 unforced errors, Martinez leaned on to make a solvent game and overcome the humidity and cold that it was on court 5 of the tournament complex. Additionally, he was able to save 10 of Vukic's 11 break balls and break his serve six times. In the last set, Pedro was flawless, with just three unprovoked misses and 81% first serves inside.
“There is nothing to complain about”
“This year has been very good, in almost all the tournaments I have been able to play I have won matches. I have played many qualys, and although it wears, it helps you to know the playing conditions of the courts. I'm fine and we have to try to continue along the same lines, “Martínez told the Spanish media after his victory. The 2019 experience was a good learning for him:” That makes you get used to it, last year I paid the hazing of playing for first time and being more nervous than normal. Now my nerves are better, I dare to take a step forward in the game and I am more stable. I get to spend more time playing at the best level. I still have, but it is the line to follow. “
Regarding the conditions of the tournament, with cold, rain and heavy balls, Pedro has no complaints, quite the opposite: “I have played the qualy in good weather and with an umbrella at breaks, with the balls there was not much difference at that time with compared to last year, what really changes the situation is the time of year. But there is nothing to complain about, really. It is a miracle that we are playing. If they hadn't done it at this time, they wouldn't have done it at any time. I'm thankfulI wish it had been a sunny week, but … The truth is that the track is very slow, there is no sun, the sky is overcast, the ball does not walk as it usually does in Paris, it does not bounce, but it is what it is “.
Albert Ramos emerges against Mannarino and awaits the surprising Fucsovics
Albert Ramos, who had a losing streak of four consecutive defeats since the US Open, was reconciled with the victory and, what is better, with tennis that made him top-20 in his day to beat with authority and in three sets Adrian Mannarino, a complicated opponent who passed over in less than two hours: 6-4, 6-3 and 6-4. Thus he broke the tie to three victories in the private duels between the two. Mannarino helped with his 51 unforced errors to just 26 for the Barcelona player, who broke his opponent's serve seven times. In the second round, the height that Albert reaches for the fifth time in his career (he was a quarterfinalist in 2016).
Your rival will be the surprising Marton Fucsovics, who beat Daniil Medvedev, the fourth seed in the tournament. Is the fourth time in four participations in which the Russian does not pass the first round. Quite a Grand Slam finalist who still does not know the victory at Roland Garros. He also does not know her in Rome and Madrid, so it is not difficult to deduce that clay is not his best surface. Fucsovics surprised the Russian and he won in three and a quarter hours by 6-4, 7-6 (3), 2-6 and 6-1. Medvedev lost the papers at certain moments of the match, reaching the second set when, with 6-3 in the tie break, smashed his racket on the ground, receiving a penalty point.
“It was a difficult game, with an always difficult opponent whom I have known for many years, and I knew that on clay I had a better chance of beating him. I'm happy because I haven't won a Grand Slam for a long time, “said Ramos, who has been a father not long ago.” Sometimes it's hard to deal with defeats in tournaments that you go to with great enthusiasm, Sometimes things don't work out , there are difficult draws and other times you lose very tough games. I am very happy with this first victory as a father. He was with my wife throughout her pregnancy and then when she was born I had to play, it was hard, “he added, before explaining that confinement has not done him” anything good. “
Solid victory for Carreño
Too Pablo Carreño continued with the good Spanish day. The recently semifinalist at the US Open now debuted at Roland Garros with victory over Australian John Millman, world number 43, 6-3, 6-2 and 7-5 in two hours and a quarter of a game. Carreño dominated his rival's serve, having up to 22 break opportunities (he took 8). The man from Gijón, a quarter-finalist in Paris in 2017, is already in the second round of the tournament, in which He will face Argentine Guido Pella.
Feliciano, record and defeat
Feliciano López could not celebrate with a victory the fact of equaling the record of participations at Roland Garros (20), who had shared two French, François Jauffret and Fabrice Santoro. The man from Toledo fell against the odds with a rival who came from the previous one, the German 22-year-old and 186th in the world Daniel Altmaier, who won 7-6 (1), 6-4 and 6-4 in 2:38. Feli, 17 years older than his rival, entered the war of aggressiveness, but failed more and did not take advantage of the moments of advantage he had in the second and third sets.
Results and schedule.