Kokkinakis out, Kyrgios still alive
AUSTRALIANS Thanasi Kokkinakis, James Duckworth and Alex Bolt have been knocked out of the Atlanta Open after first-round defeats.
Kokkinakis was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by fellow qualifier Noah Rubin, with a break in each set enough for the American to claim the 84-minute win. The American world No. 164 will face Australian second seed Nick Kyrgios in the next round.
Duckworth pushed Ryan Harrison to three sets but was no match in the decider, going down 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 to the American eighth seed.
Meanwhile, qualifier Bolt went down 6-4, 6-1 to 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis.
Other first-round winners were Taylor Fritz, Donald Young and Cameron Norrie. IN HAMBURG, John Millman has beaten German Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets at the German Open to set up a tricky second-round clash with world No. 8 Dominic Thiem.
The Australian saved three break points to overcome Struff 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 31 minutes on clay at Hamburg’s Am Rothenbaum.
Meanwhile, Thiem marked his return from an injury layoff with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over qualifier Corentin Moutet.
The French Open runner-up’s Wimbledon adventure was cut short earlier this month after he was forced to retire with a back injury in his openinground match against Baghdatis.
Third-seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta edged wildcard Florian Mayer 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) yesterday, while the seventh-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet overcame countryman Benoit Paire 7-5, 6-3.