De Minaur Begins Eastbourne Trophy Defence With Victory
Alex de Minaur started his title defence at the Rothesay International with victory Monday, downing Chilean Cristian Garin 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round in Eastbourne.
The Australian dropped just one set en route to the crown at the ATP 250 event last season and once again looked at home on the grass on the English south coast. The sixth seed broke Garin four times to advance after 83 minutes, improving to 3-0 in their ATP Head2Head series.
The 23-year-old, who holds a 14-11 record on grass, could next play Lorenzo Sonego in a rematch of last season’s final. The Italian will meet Australian qualifier James Duckworth on Tuesday.
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Australian qualifier John Millman advanced, upsetting American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 7-6(5) to level their ATP Head2Head series at 1-1. Korda defeated Millman in the first round at Roland Garros last month, but the 33-year-old ensured history would not be repeated, securing victory after one hour and 40 minutes.
"It is really nice to be here. It is good to get some form going," Millman said. "I am happy to get some good wins in qualifying and then to beat a player like Sebastian is a nice feeling."
Millman will next play Alexander Bublik after the 25-year-old rallied past Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-0 in one hour and 52 minutes to improve to 14-10 on grass.
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Maxime Cressy overcame Reilly Opelka 6-3, 6-1 in an-all American battle to reach the second round on his debut in Eastbourne.
The 25-year-old won 92 per cent (24/26) of points behind his first delivery as he served and volleyed the fifth seed off the court to move through in 60 minutes.
Cressy, who reached the quarter-finals on grass in Newport last season, will face Briton Daniel Evans or Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the second round.
Brandon Nakashima also moved through on his debut at the ATP 250 grass-court event, cruising past British wild card Jay Clarke 6-1, 6-3.