By Alessandro Mastroluca
- Kyle Edmund defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-2 4-6 6-3 in a match that lasted seven hours because of two rain delays
- Edmund will meet Italian Andreas Seppi or Frenchman Adrian Mannarino: their match has been suspended at 1-2 in the first set
- Cameron Norrie lost 7-6(3) 6-2 to Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – Kyle Edmund clinched his maiden victory of the season. He will face Andreas Seppi or Adrian Mannarino to reach his first quarter-final of the year.
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Kyle Edmund def. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-2 4-6 6-3
Kyle Edmund had to wait more than seven hours to seal his maiden win of the season. The British No.3 battled the Auckland weather and the young Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to make it through to the second round of the ASB Classic. Edmund won 6-2 4-6 6-3 in a match scheduled at midday, effectively started at 4:03 pm and wrapped up at 7:20 pm.
A light drizzle began to fall when they were warming up and the rain soon became heavier, forcing the organisers to delay, and then to cancel, almost the whole day as just three singles matches were completed.
Edmund was supposed to play qualifying in Adelaide this week, but he changed his mind as he realised he would be able to be directly admitted in the main draw in Auckland. After a disappointing first-round defeat to Filip Krajinovic in Doha last week, Edmund definitely started better in New Zealand, winning the first three games of the match and taking the opening set in 27 minutes.
Edmund missed a break-point chance at 3-2, then he lost his serve and Davidovich Fokina managed to serve to force a decider at 5-4 when more rain fell. They came back on court after 90 minutes. The Spaniard sealed the second set but in the decider, Edmund raced to a crucial 3-0 lead thanks to more solid tennis and went on to win the match.
As reported by the New Zealander newspaper Stuff, Edmund said the key for him is switching off and think about other things.
“It’s really hard to be completely on it, six hours waiting. So you try to switch off, relax and then the key is turning back on when you’re on the court.”
The World No.69 will meet Italian veteran Andreas Seppi or French left-hander Adrian Mannarino. Their match was suspended at 2-1 in the first set. Play will resume on Wednesday: they’re scheduled first on Stadium 2 at 11:00 am local time (tonight at 11:00 pm GMT).
READ MORE | ATP Auckland ASB Classic 2020 | Latest Tennis Schedules & Draws
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Thiago Monteiro def. Cameron Norrie 7-6(3) 6-2
Cameron Norrie lost 7-6(3) 6-2 to Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro in the second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland. The Brit, who was grew up in Auckland where he reached the final last season, looked confident in the first games as he built a 4-2 lead. But gradually the gritty South American came back. He won five out of six close games throughout the match. He established his authority after winning the first set tie-break and broke twice to 1-0 and 4-1 in a one-sided second set.
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