Tommy Robredo made a successful ATP World Tour return on the clay after a 6-4 6-4 win over Sergiy Stakhovsky
In a hard fought match on a sunny day in Morocco, Tommy Robredo broke in the ninth game of both sets to seal a comfortable 6-4 6-4 over the Ukrainian qualifier. Stakhovsky was unable to implement his serve and volley style on the clay, which allowed the veteran Spaniard to exploit his weaknesses. However Robredo will need to improve his service games in the next round as he had to save six break points in the match. Robredo will now play top seed Grigor Dimitrov in the second round.
Meanwhile another Spaniard Nicolas Almagro struggled against Moldovan Radu Albot as he lost 7-6(6) 6-3. It was a poor match from the world number 55 as he fell to an embarrassing defeat. Albot executed 66% of first serves three times en route to victory. He will now play either Carlos Berlocq or sixth seed Benoit Paire in the second round.
Other results included a shock win for Serbian qualifier Laslo Djere as he secured a 7-6(3) 6-3 win over Martin Klizan. Djere hit 10 aces in a brutal two set match which lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes. The Serbian managed to convert two out of eight break point opportunities against the Slovakian. This will need to improve in the next round where he battles second seed Albert Ramos-Viñolas.
The other first round match to be completed was Jan-Lennard Struff’s 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory over Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel. The world number 59 broke five times and served 12 aces in his victory. He will now play either Amine Ahouda or eighth seed Marcel Granollers.
