Arnaldi, Blockx, Quinn Win Qualifying Openers

Italian Matteo Arnaldi is one win from the main draw of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters after rallying from a set down to defeat Czech Vit Kopriva Saturday in the opening round of qualifying.

Playing just his fifth tournament of the year due to an ankle injury, the former Top 30 star broke serve five times in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win to set a meeting with Frenchman Alexandre Muller, who beat Briton Jan Choinski 7-6(1), 6-3.

Arnaldi earned 20 match wins last year – and a quarter-final berth in Madrid – but is still searching for his first at tour-level this season.

Last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up Alexander Blockx won 79 per cent of first serves in his 7-6(3), 6-2 win over Italian Francesco Maestrelli. For a place in the main draw the Belgian now needs to beat World No. 74 Damir Dzumhur, who enjoyed a 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, who competed alongside Blockx in Jeddah last December.

Qualifying top seed Ethan Quinn rallied to beat Finland’s Otto Virtanen 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. With six main-draw wins already this year, the World No. 56 next meets Argentine Francisco Comesana.

Belgian David Goffin, who is attempting to join fellow veterans Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils in the main draw in their farewell appearances in Monte-Carlo, will play American Emilio Nava Sunday after defeating Peru’s Ignacio Buse 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Monaco duo Hugo Nys and Romain Arneodo both fell in their singles qualifying bids, but both will be in the doubles main draw.