Australia’s Chris O’Connell has made an encouraging start to his clay-court season in Morocco.
Marrakech, Morocco, 5 April 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Marrakech, Morocco
Chris O’Connell has made a winning start to his clay-court season at an ATP 250 tournament in Marrakech.
The 28-year-old Australian posted a 7-5 6-4 victory against Italian qualifier Riccardo Bonadio in the opening round.
World No.87 O’Connell won 80 per cent of first-serve points in the 98-minute encounter.
This is O’Connell’s second career ATP-level main-draw victory on clay and sets up a second-round showdown with world No.31 Botic van de Zandschulp.
Aussies in action – Marrakech
RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
Chris O’Connell (AUS) d [Q] Riccardo Bonadio (ITA) 7-5 6-4
COMING UP
Men’s singles, second round
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [2] Dan Evans (GBR)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [3] Botic van de Zandschulp (NED)
Houston, USA
Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler have combined to score their first team win since their memorable Australian Open 2023 run.
The reigning AO champions defeated American wildcards William Blumberg and Christian Harrison 6-2 7-5 in opening-round doubles action today at an ATP 250 tournament in Houston.
It is their seventh victory from the nine matches they have contested so far this season.
Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson also moved into the doubles quarterfinals at the clay-court event, blitzing past American wildcards Hunter Reese and Reese Stalder in 58 minutes.
Earlier in the day, Thompson’s singles campaign ended with a straight-sets loss to fifth-seeded American J.J. Wolf.
Aussies in action – Houston
RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
[5] J.J. Wolf (USA) d Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3 6-2
Men’s doubles, first round
[1] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS) d [WC] William Blumberg (USA)/Christian Harrison (USA) 6-2 7-5
Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) d [WC] Hunter Reese (USA)/Reese Stalder (USA) 6-1 6-4
COMING UP
Men’s singles, first round
Max Purcell (AUS) v Daniel Altmaier (GER)
Men’s singles, second round
[6] Jason Kubler (AUS) v Daniel Elahi Galan (COL)
Men’s doubles, quarterfinals
[1] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS) v TBC
Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) v TBC
Charleston, USA
Storm Hunter and American partner Caroline Dolehide have charged into the women’s doubles quarterfinals at a WTA 500 tournament in Charleston.
The third-seeded combination scored a 7-5 6-3 victory against Norway’s…
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