Cilic Moves Into Stuttgart Second Round
Marin Cilic recorded his first victory of the grass-court season on Tuesday as he overcame German youngster Rudolf Molleker 7-5, 6-3 to move into the second round at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart.
The Croatian, who lost to Roger Federer in the second round at Roland Garros last week, fired 20 aces and saved all five break points he faced in the match that lasted 78 minutes.
The 32-year-old’s reward is a meeting against Nikoloz Basilashvili, after the fifth seed defeated Dustin Brown 6-3, 7-6(4). Basilashvili won 55 per cent (12/22) of points on the German’s second-serve and saved two set points in the second set at 4-5 and 5-6.
World No. 32 Ugo Humbert also progressed at the ATP 250 event, where Denis Shapovalov is the first seed, beating Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-1. The sixth seed won 64 per cent (14/22) of points behind his second-serve and broke the World. No. 44 four times.
[WATCH LIVE 1]The Frenchman, who came through in 65 minutes, is now 8-12 on the season and will face compatriot Jeremy Chardy or German wild card Yannick Hanfmann next.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Lloyd Harris roared back from 2-4 down in the second set to move past Gilles Simon 6-4, 7-5. The 24-year-old won 79 per cent (15/19) of points on his first-serve to set up an encounter against third-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.