Australian Li Tu has recorded his maiden ATP-level main-draw victory and also the first top-100 win of his career.
Newport, USA , 18 July 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Newport, USA
Li Tu has scored a memorable victory against fellow Australian Aleksandar Vukic at an ATP 250 tournament in Newport.
Tu, a qualifier ranked No.252, triumphed 6-3 7-6(6) against world No.83 Vukic in their opening-round clash at the grass-court tournament.
This is 27-year-old Tu’s maiden ATP-level main-draw victory and also the first top-100 win of his career.
James Duckworth also produced an impressive performance, scoring his first tour-level main-draw win of the season.
The 31-year-old Australian won a two-hour and 31-minute battle against world No.86 Constant Lestienne. Duckworth served 14 aces in his 5-7 6-4 7-5 victory against the Frenchman.
This is world No.129 Duckworth’s second top-100 victory of the season and first since January.
However, the news wasn’t all good for Australian contenders. Max Purcell, the tournament’s sixth seed, lost his opening-round match, as did qualifier Alex Bolt.
Bolt, who qualified for an ATP-level event for the first time since September 2021, extended big-serving American veteran John Isner to three sets in their opening-round clash.
In doubles action, Jordan Thompson boosted the number of Australians through to the quarterfinals to three.
Thompson and French partner Adrian Mannarino carved out a 6-2 6-4 victory against French duo Luca Sanchez and Theo Arribage.
Aussies in action – Newport
RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
[Q] Li Tu (AUS) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-3 7-6(6)
James Duckworth (AUS) d Constant Lestienne (FRA) 5-7 6-4 7-5
Gijs Brouwer (NED) d [6] Max Purcell (AUS) 6-4 6-1
John Isner (USA) d [Q] Alex Bolt (AUS) 6-4 2-6 6-3
Men’s doubles, first round
Jordan Thompson (AUS)/Adrian Mannarino (FRA) d Luca Sanchez (FRA)/Theo Arribage (FRA) 6-2 6-4
Andre Goransson (SWE)/Ben McLachlan (JPN) d Andrew Harris (AUS)/Evan King (USA) 7-6(6) 6-7(4) [10-5]
COMING UP
Men’s singles, second round
[7] Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Liam Broady (GBR)
Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v [2] Adrian Mannarino (FRA)
James Duckworth (AUS) v Alex Michelsen (USA)
[Q] Li Tu (AUS) v [4] Mackenzie McDonald (USA)
Men’s doubles, first round
[2] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Reese Stalder (USA) v Chung Yunseong (KOR)/Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA)
Men’s doubles, quarterfinals
John-Patrick Smith (AUS)/Robert Galloway (USA) v [3] Yuki Bhambri (IND)/Saketh Myneni…
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