Wellington, Sydney: Big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic became the first seed to fall at the Auckland Classic on Monday, losing in straight sets to Canada’s Vasek Pospisil.
With the tournament’s big names, including four-time champion David Ferrer, enjoying a first-round bye, the focus was on Karlovic as the only seeded player in action on day one of the Australian Open warm-up event.
But he failed to fire on centre court and Pospisil, ranked 16 places below the world No. 23 ground out a 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 victory.
“It feels great. I played really well and I’m thrilled about that,” Pospisil said.
The Canadian’s win sets up a second-round tie against his doubles partner Jack Sock of the United States who defeated Dominican Victor Estrella Burgos 6-0, 6-4.
American Donald Young eased past local wildcard Finn Tearney 6-2, 6-3.
“He played well and he had the crowd behind him, so he was tough to beat,” Young said of his opponent.
Defending champion Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic opens his campaign with a first-round clash against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday.
Ferrer, who is chasing a record-breaking fifth title in Auckland, will not play until Wednesday.
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, American two-time champion John Isner and South Africa’s Kevin Anderson will also go straight into the second round.
In Sydney, German Angelique Kerber defied fierce heat and early lethargy to maintain her trouble-free build-up to next week’s Australian Open.
The fourth seed, one of the few members of the women’s world top 10 not to have suffered a setback in the lead-up to the year’s first Grand Slam, rallied from a set down to oust Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the opening round of the Sydney International.
Kerber, who lost to Victoria Azarenka in last weekend’s final at the Brisbane International, is looking for more matches to hone her form leading into the Australian Open in Melbourne.
While defending champion Petra Kvitova and second seed Agnieszka Radwanska pulled out of the Sydney event citing injuries, Kerber powered on to get in some valuable match practice.
Kvitova and Radwanska’s withdrawals came after injury problems at other Australian tournaments for the world’s top-ranked stars including Serena Williams (knee), Simona Halep (Achilles), Garbine Muguruza (foot) and Maria Sharapova (forearm).
“I had a lot of matches last week, but that was actually also my plan to come to Australia, to have a lot of matches, and also to play a few more matches here,” Kerber said.
Results
ATP Auckland Classic (x denotes seed):
First round:
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO x7) 7-6 (7/4), 7-5
Matthew Barton (AUS) bt Steve Johnson (USA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Robin Haase (NED) bt Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-4, 6-1
Jack Sock (USA) bt Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM) 6-0, 6-4
Donald Young (USA) bt Finn Tearney (NZL) 6-2, 6-3
Thiemo de Bakker (NED) bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 6-3, 6-4
Sydney International
Men (first round):
Alexander Sarkissian (USA) bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5)
Andreas Seppi (ITA x5) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Women (first round):
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) bt Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 6-2, 6-1
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) bt Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) 6-1, 7-6 (7/1)
Sabine Lisicki (GER) bt Polona Hercog (SLO) 6-4, 6-3
Angelique Kerber (GER x4) bt Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
Sara Errani (ITA) bt Carla Suarez (ESP x7) 6-3, 6-3
Hobart WTA International:
First round:
Mona Barthel (GER x9) bt Misaki Doi (JPN) 6-4, 6-4
Nao Hibino (JPN) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 7-6 (7/1), 6-1
Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Jarmila Wolfe (AUS) 6-7 (6/8) 7-6 (10/8) 6-4
Kiki Bertens (NED) bt Madison Brengle (USA x5) 6-0, 1-1 (retired — illness)
Annika Beck (GER) bt Kurumi Nara (JPN) 6-4, 6-3
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) bt Danka Kovinic (MNE) 6-4, 6-3
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x3) bt Johanna Konta (GBR) 7-6 (8/6), 7-5
Veronica Cepede (PAR) bt Laura Pous (ESP) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
Johanna Larsson (SWE) bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE x6) 6-4, 6-4
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) bt Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 6-2, 6-1
