Spaniards Lead Charge On Day Two
The Spanish contingent enjoyed the Monday sun at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters with four countrymen progressing to the second round.
Pablo Carreno Busta, the No. 13 seed, earned a thrilling win over Italian Fabio Fognini to remain perfect at 5-0 against the Italian in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series with a third clay-court win. After an intense 7-6(0), 6-7(4), 6-3 victory in two hours and 23 minutes, Carreno Busta awaits #NextGenATP Karen Khachanov or Nicolas Mahut.
Roberto Bautista Agut, the No. 12 seed, overcame a slow start to battle past Nikoloz Basilashvili, making his main draw debut, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and seven minutes. The winner of five ATP World Tour titles, including the Aircel Chennai Open (d. Medvedev) in February, will next meet Diego Schwartzman in the second round. Schwartzman recorded his first win on his second visit to the Monte-Carlo Country Club by beating Bernard Tomic 6-1, 7-6(3) in 78 minutes.
Nicolas Almagro will meet No. 10 seed David Goffin bidding to reach the Monte-Carlo third round for a fifth time (2008, 2011-12, 2014), after he lost nine of his first service points to beat qualifier Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in just under two hours.
Albert Ramos-Vinolas, the No. 15 seed, saved six of eight break points in a 6-2, 6-3 victory over qualifier Renzo Olivo in 79 minutes. He now challenges Carlos Berlocq or Marrakech runner-up Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Elsewhere, Adrian Mannarino won his first match at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament to oust Spaniard and fellow qualifier Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, the 2014 quarter-finalist, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in just over two hours. Mannarino now meets French compatriot and seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round. Tsonga celebrated his 32nd birthday on Monday.
“A victory is always satisfying in Monaco or elsewhere,” said Mannarino. “This is a Masters 1000, so it’s even better… I was practicing for 10 days before coming to this tournament. Usually it takes a few weeks before I can adapt. This year, during this first tournament, I’m already able to play a good match. It’s encouraging.”