#NextGenATP Opelka Fights To See Another Day In Paris

  • Posted: May 22, 2018

#NextGenATP Opelka Fights To See Another Day In Paris

American fell in final round of qualifying last year

#NextGenATP American Reilly Opelka moved to within two wins of qualifying for Roland Garros for the first time on Tuesday. The 20-year-old right-hander beat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the second round of qualifying.

Opelka won his first clay-court title on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Primrose, an ATP Challenger Tour tournament in Bordeaux, France. He lost in the final round of Roland Garros qualifying last year. The 6’10” Opelka will next meet 25-year-old Jozef Kovalik of Slovakia, who beat 30th seed Alexey Vatutin of Russia 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.

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Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who beat Roger Federer en route to the 2014 Roland Garros semi-finals (l. to Djokovic), also advanced on a rain-shortened day of qualifying in Paris. Gulbis beat French veteran Stephane Robert 7-5, 6-4.

Last week gave me some confidence, making the semis in Bordeaux [l. to Opelka], so maybe now I can show some better tennis in the majors again,” Gulbis told RolandGarros.com.

Sixth seed Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil beat Christian Garin of Chile 7-6(6), 6-4; 28th seed Henri Laaksonen of Switzerland beat American Bradley Klahn 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4; and Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo, who captured his first title at any level in five years on Sunday at the Lisboa Belem Open, an ATP Challenger Tour event, fell to 20th seed Simone Bolelli of Italy 6-4, 6-4.

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