Philipp Kohlschreiber has long enjoyed success in Auckland, winning the title in 2008 and reaching at least the quarter-finals eight times. So it should come as no surprise that the German veteran got off to a good start at the ASB Classic on Monday.
Kohlschreiber defeated American qualifier Bradley Klahn 6-4, 7-6(2), moving through his first match in Auckland for the 11th time in 12 tries. The World No. 34’s only opening-round loss at the event came in 2005, when he was 21 years old.
In the second round, Kohlschreiber will face eighth seed Gael Monfils or #NextGenATP Ugo Humbert. If Kohlschreiber plays Monfils, the Frenchman leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 13-2.
While one American lost, 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier Taylor Fritz moved on. Fritz came back from a set down to beat Marius Copil 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 38 minutes. The 21-year-old won all 18 of his first-serve points to advance, earning a match-up against top seed John Isner. The World No. 9 has won both of his FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings against Fritz without dropping a set.
Brit Cameron Norrie won his first match of the 2019 season with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Frenchman Benoit Paire in 58 minutes. Norrie saved all four break points he faced to move into the second round, where he will clash against fellow left-hander Denis Shapovalov, the seventh seed and #NextGenATP star, or Portugal’s Joao Sousa. That match is set for Monday’s evening session on Centre Court.
In other action, German Jan-Lennard Struff advanced, taking a 7-6(5), 2-0 lead against Laslo Djere before the Serbian retired. Struff will play 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Hyeon Chung or wild card Ruben Statham for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Did You Know?
Kohlschreiber is now just two victories away from the 450-wins milestone. According to the FedEx ATP Performance Zone, the 34-year-old has more wins than any other active German, and is third from his nation in the Open Era, trailing just Boris Becker (713-214) and Tommy Haas (569-338).
Source: ATP World Tour
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