The Top Three Advance In Johannesburg

Gael Monfils and David Ferrer advanced easily. Monfils steamrolled Dominik Hrbarty 6-2 6-1. Ferrer did not have it quite as easily but triumphed nonetheless in straight sets over Slovakian Karol Beck 6-1 7-5.

Third-seed Feliciano Lopez had a difficult time with Benjamin Balleret, a qualifier from Monaco. After three sets, the Spaniard eventually prevailed 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3. Lopez acknowledged in his press conference after the match that the heat and altitude bothered him during his match. Hopefully, he will get used to the conditions in time for his second-round match.

Now, the three move on to the next round. Monfils will play his good friend Josselin Ouanna. Ferrer will meet a Swedish qualifier Filip Prpic. Lopez draws another qualifier Blaz Kavcic.

Tuesday's Results
Singles First Round
1 Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) 6-2 6-1
2 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Karol Beck (SVK) 6-1 7-5
3 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Q Benjamin Balleret (MON) 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3
Dustin Brown (JAM) def. 4 Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-4 3-6 6-4
Somdev Devvarman (IND) def. 6 Xavier Malisse (BEL) 6-4 6-2
7 Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) def. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 6-2
Thiago Alves (BRA) def. Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. (UKR) 5-7 6-2 6-3
Josselin Ouanna (FRA) def. Harel Levy (ISR) 7-6(4) 6-2
WC Izak Van Der Merwe (RSA) def. Q Noam Okun (ISR) 7-6(5) 7-6(2)
WC Raven Klaasen (RSA) def. David Guez (FRA) 6-4 6-3
Bjorn Phau (GER) def. Q Fritz Wolmarans (RSA) 6-4 7-5
Q Filip Prpic (SWE) def. Ivan Navarro (ESP) 6-3 7-5

Doubles First Round
2 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) def. R. de Voest (RSA)/Y. Lu (TPE) 6-3 6-4 3
E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA) def. P. Marx (GER)/I. Zelenay (SVK) 7-6(6) 6-3
P. Amritraj (IND)/J. Cerretani (USA) def. WC R. Roselofse (RSA)/N. Scholtz (RSA) 6-4 6-1

Wednesday’s Order of Play

(Image: AFP)