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Kokkinakis, Thompson enjoy three-set Washington wins

3 minute read

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jordan Thompson have progressed to the second round of the DC Open, but compatriots Aleksandar Vukic and Max Purcell were both beaten.

THANASI KOKKINAKIS of Australia returns a shot during a match of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.
THANASI KOKKINAKIS of Australia returns a shot during a match of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

Thanasi Kokkinakis has made an encouraging start to the DC Open in Washington, rallying from a set down to beat Japan's Taro Daniel 2-6 6-4 6-4.

The 27-year-old Australian and world No.86, facing a player ranked 25 places lower, prevailed in two hours 40 minutes on Tuesday night and will now play French 13th seed Ugo Humbert.

Joining Kokkinakis in the round of 32 is compatriot Jordan Thompson, who was also pushed to three sets before prevailing by South African veteran Kevin Anderson.

Thompson won 6-4 6-7 (1-7) 6-1 and next faces seventh-seeded Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

Aleksandar Vukic, fresh off his run to last week's Atlanta Open final, was beaten 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (11-9) by American Brandon Nakashima, while another Aussie in Max Purcell went down 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 to Californian qualifier Zachary Svajda.

In men's second round action, Michael Mmoh held off fourth-seeded Pole Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-4) and 10th seed Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan lost 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2 to Finn Emil Ruusuvuori.

Fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov beat Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (7-6) 6-2 and Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng defeated 14th-seeded Ben Shelton 6-2 3-6 6-3 for the second time in as many weeks after eliminating the local favourite in Atlanta.

"I've got a great return I think and in the past two weeks, I've been returning really well. So I think that was the key today, to break a few service games from him," Shang, who has four wins in as many days in Washington where he won two qualifying rounds over the weekend before ousting Emilio Gomez, said.

"Overall, I'm playing very confident and I'm just very patient on court and fighting for each point."

In the women's draw, 2021 Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady won her first WTA Tour match in two years.

The American, once ranked as high as 13th but currently 1056th after being sidelined since August 2021, beat 28th-ranked Anhelina Kalinina 6-2 6-1 in just over an hour.

"I'm really happy with the way I came out and dealt with my emotions," Brady said.

"Tennis is a part of who I am, and I hope I never lose that."

Elsewhere, Leylah Fernandez beat Bernarda Pera 6-3 7-5, Karolina Pliskova saw off Hailey Baptiste 6-1 0-6 6-3 and Petra Martic was a 6-3 7-6 (15-13) winner over Sorana Cirstea.

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