Top seed Dudi Sela was the only seed in play on Tuesday to escape the first round without defeat as four other seeds crashed out of the tournament.
Sela made a routine start by defeating Uladzimir Ignatik in two close sets, 6-4, 7-6, but the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth seeds all departed.
The biggest name to lose early was Bjorn Fratangelo, as the former Roland Garros Junior Champion suffered a disappointing loss at the hands of Andrew Whittington 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Whittington’s win would be just one of three earned by local qualifiers, but his was by far the most impressive. Dwayne Kelly also scored a massive upset, defeating Britain’s Dan Evans in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, while Maverick Banes accounted for another seed in sixth-seeded Grega Zemlja, dispatching the Slovenian handily 6-4, 7-6.
Fourth seed Igor Sijsling was unable to prevent the continued exodus of seeds, as crashed out to Japan’s Hiroki Moriya 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, and Czech Jan Satral downed fifth seed Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
The upsets continued even outside of seeded players, as heavily touted American Francis Tiafoe also took his leave courtesy of a qualifier in the form of experienced Canadian Peter Polansky. The twenty-seven year old built on his winning of the first set to clinch victory in three 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.
Alexander Sarkissian and Marton Fucsovics ignored the fact that they were both ranked just below their respective opponents to pull out the win. Fucsovics will face Maverick Banes and Sarkissian has a tough encounter with countryman Taylor Fritz in the next round.
Wednesday’s Singles Matches (picks in bold)
Nils Langer vs Alex Bolt
Bradley Mousley vs Andrew Whittington
Taylor Fritz vs Alexander Sarkissian
Dennis Novak vs Aldin Setkic
