Aussies Hijikata and Purcell shine in Los Cabos
-Coming from the qualifiers, Hijikata and Purcell are in the second round
Los Cabos, August 1st, 2022.- Australians Rinky Hijikata and Max Purcell advanced to the second round of the Mifel Tennis Open by winning their respective matches; Mexico’s Rodrigo Pacheco (withdraw in the 2nd set) and Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen.
Hijikata advanced (6-3 and 4-0) with a retired Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco, who suffered a hand injury after a fall 3 days prior, taking it`s toll on court today.
With his win, the Australian earned the right to face world No. 1, Russian Daniil Medvedev.
After a 2 hour match, Purcell defeated Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen in 3 sets, 6-3, 3-6 & 6-4 being the longest match of the day.
Winner will face the winner of the match between Japan’s Kaichi Uchida and American (US) Brandon Nakashima.
In other singles matches; Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis wins over Frenchman Quentin Halys 7-6 (1) and 7-5, while the Chinese Taipei’s Chun-Hsin Tseng wins over the American (US) Nick Chapell 6-4, 6-4.
On the second round, Berankis will face the winner of Tuesday’s match between Argentine Facundo Bagnis and American (US)Ernesto Escobedo, while Chun-Hsin Tseng will face Britain’s Cameron Norrie, world No. 12 and defending champion.
In double; American (US) William Blumberg & Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic defeated 3-6, 6-3 and 10-8 the Americans (US) Nathaniel Lemmons and Jackson Withrow by 7-6 (10) and 6-4.
This Tuesday the first round of singles will be completed with eight matches. The star match will be between the Spanish Fernando Verdasco and the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. In addition, the Mexican Alex Hernández will face the Australian John Millman. There will also be other 4 doubles matches,
one of them with the Mexican Miguel Ángel Reyes Varela