Khachanoc crashes out of Open 13 Provence in first round

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Fifth seed & World No 17 Karen Khachanov, 27, Russia, tumbled out of Open 13 Provence, an ATP Tour 250 event played on indoor hard courts at Marseille, Franve, on February 19, 2020, losing to World No 47 Aljaz Bedene, 30, Slovenia, in first round.

Bedene stunned Khachanov 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 battling back from one set down. Bedene hammered 18 Aces in the match to 8 by the Russian. But, he also committed 7 double faults to 2 by the Russian. Bedene won 2 break points to 1 by Khachanov. He won 3 games in a row in the match to 2 by Khachanov. Bedene, in all, won 107 points to 102 by the Russian. Bedene will face World No 58 Gilles Simon, 35, France, in 2nd round on February 20, 2020.

World No 79 Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 28, France, beat World No 69 Mikhail Kukushkin, 32, Kazakhstan, 7-6, 6-4 in 1hr 48 minutes winning a break point and 3 games in a row to enter the 2nd round. Herbert hammered 17 Aces in the match to 3 by Kukushkin. Herbert won 82 points to 74 by Kukushkin.

World No 98 Vasek Pospisil, 29, Canada, upset World No 29 Hubert Hurkacz, 23, Poland, the 8th seed, 6-3, 6-4 winning 2 break points and 3 games in a row to enter the 2nd round. The Canadian fired 9 Aces in the match to 3 by Hurkacz. Pospisil won 71 points to 56 by Kurkacz.