Lucky loser Yuichi Sugita of Japan made the most of his main draw showing at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Monday, knocking out 2004 champion Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-3 to earn his first win of the season.
Sugita saved six of seven break points to prevail past the 34-year-old Robredo, who received a wild card into the main draw. The 28-year-old Sugita will meet ninth seed Richard Gasquet in the second round.
#NextGenATP qualifier Casper Ruud will meet Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters finalist and 10th seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round after dismissing Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2 in 65 minutes. Ruud, the youngest player in the draw at 18, reached the semi-finals in Rio earlier this season and is currently sixth in the Emirates ATP Race To Milan, which will determine the 21-and-under field at the inaugural #NextGenATP Finals, to be held 7-11 November in Milan.
Who's Pushing Ruud? View The Emirates ATP Race To Milan
Brit Kyle Edmund booked a second-round meeting against fourth seed Dominic Thiem with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Spanish veteran Nicolas Almagro beat Canadian qualifier Steven Diez 6-3, 6-4 and will battle #NextGenATP star Alexander Zverev in the second round for the first time.
[ALSO LIKE]