Bedene eases into second round of China Open
British No 3 Aljaz Bedene is through to the second round of the China Open in Beijing.
The world No 50 saw off Marcel Granollers 6-4, 6-2 to set up a meeting with another Spaniard, Roberto Bautista Agut.
Bedene was in control from the off against a player who prefers clay – the China Open is a hard court tournament – and a single break of serve was enough to decide the first set. The second was more comfortable for the Brit and a double break helped him seal his spot in the next round.
Bautista Agut, who is the fifth seed, saw off local hopeful Ze Zhang 6-1, 6-3.
But fourth-seed Pablo Carreno Busta was a casualty, going out to qualifier Steve Darcis. The Spaniard barely put up a fight and the Belgian earned a 6-4, 6-0 win.
Fabio Fognini beat Robin Haase 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, Dejan Lajovic had too much for Fernando Verdasco in a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win and Mischa Zverev won the battle of Germany against Janlennard Struff 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile, top seed Marin Cilic made serene progress in the first round of the Japan Open. The Croatian, who is topping the bill in Tokyo, beat Greek qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2 to set up a second-round meeting with home favourite Yasutaka Uchiyama.
Uchiyama, a wild card, booked his spot by seeing off Franko Skugor of Croatia 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Us open runner-upkevin Anderson served his way past France’s Gilles Simon, winning 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) but seventh seed Albert Ramos-vinolas is out, losing 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to Jiri Vesely. There were also wins for Adrian Mannarino, Bernard Tomic and Ryan Harrison.