Ruud advances at Mallorca Championships

Mallorca – Norway’s Casper Ruud moved past Gilles Simon 6-4, 7-6(4) to reach the second-round at the 2021 Mallorca Championships, and record his first grass-court victory of the season.

The fifth seed, No. 14 in the ATP Rankings, broke the Frenchman’s serve twice and won 80 per cent of his first-service points to advance at the new ATP 250 grass-court event in Spain.

The 22-year-old will play Tennys Sandgren next after the American overcame Spaniard Jaume Munar 7-6(3), 7-5.

World No. 29 Karen Khachanov fought past French qualifier Lucas Pouille 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-4 in two hours and 17 minutes.

The Russian hit 13 aces and won 42 per cent of points on Pouille’s second serve to set up a clash with Feliciano Lopez in the second round.

Lopez, who has won four of his seven ATP Tour titles on grass, defeated fellow Spaniard Nicola Kuhn 6-1, 7-6(4).

The World No. 90 won 84 per cent (32/38) of his first-service points and broke Kuhn three times. The 39-year-old will be aiming to record his 500th career win against Khachanov.

Frenchman Corentin Moutet also advanced as he beat Lloyd Harris 6-4, 6-2 in 88 minutes.

The World No. 85 did not face a break point against the South African and will meet top-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev in the second round.

Italian Stefano Travaglia defeated Guido Pella 7-5, 7-6(4), and Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein overcame World No. 41 Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 7-6(2). Former World No. 35 Jiri Vesely beat Salvatore Caruso 7-6(2), 6-2 to also move through.

Elsewhere, Italian top seed Matteo Berrettini marked himself down as a genuine Wimbledon threat after beating Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3 to win the Queen’s Club title.

The 25-year-old used his huge serve and forehand to great effect once again to claim his fifth career title and become the first Italian champion at the prestigious event.

Berrettini banged down his 19th ace as he served for the match and claimed victory on his first match point.

“Sorry for the others but this is the nicest trophy I’ve won,” the Italian said after becoming the first debutant to win the title since Boris Becker in 1985.