3 minute read
Jordan Thompson and Alexei Popyrin have secured wins at the ATP Tour's Winston-Salem Open to make it three Australians in the second round.
Jordan Thompson has won through to the second round of ATP Tour's Winston-Salem Open to set up a meeting with fellow Australian Max Purcell.
Thompson powered through the first set and finished strongly, either side of a mid-match dip, to see off Guido Pella 6-1 1-6 6-3 in his tournament opener.
Alexei Popyrin maintained his composure under lights to account for experienced American Steve Johnson 7-5 6-4.
Popyrin needed eight set points on serve in the 12th game to close out the hour-long opening stanza, keeping his focus despite the slew of missed chances.
The 22-year-old Sydneysider converted on three of 10 break-point chances while Johnson took advantage of his sole opportunity in the match.
The victory was Popyrin's first in a main draw since the grass court event in Eastbourne two months ago and avenged his defeat to Johnson in Atlanta last month.
The 15th-seeded Carlos Alcaraz awaits Popyrin in the next round, with the Spanish 18-year-old at a career-high 54th in the rankings.
World No.59 Thomson fired down 11 aces and dominated on his first serve against Argentine Pella, his only struggles coming in the second set.
He had two match points on the left-hander's serve at 5-2 in the deciding set before closing out the opening-round encounter on his own serve.
Thompson was due to meet compatriot John Millman in the next round, however, the eighth seed, who had an opening-round bye at the US Open tune-up event, has withdrawn with a foot problem.
Millman's absence from the main draw in North Carolina opened the door for 205th-ranked Purcell to take his spot as a lucky loser.