Pablo Cuevas is one of the toughest players on clay, but the veteran from Uruguay has struggled in recent months. Since reaching the third round of Roland Garros (l. to Verdasco) Cuevas has been fighting a knee injury that saw him miss the full grass court season including Wimbledon.
Cuevas lost in the opening round of the Hamburg 500 to Andrey Kuznetsov 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. This follows the shock second round exit to Henri Laaksonen last week in Bastad. It might be that Cuevas is still feeling the effects of the injury. An alternative is that given that this was just his second match since Roland Garros, that he is just a little short of match fitness.
Philipp Kohlschreiber knocked out freshly minted ATP Tour title winner Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-1. Nicolas Kicker defeated veteran German Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-2. 3rd seed Karen Khachanov defeated 16 year old qualifier Rudolf Molleker 6-4, 6-3. Mollecker had shocked Casper Ruud and Leonardo Mayer to reach his first ATP main draw event. The Russian, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the third round at Wimbledon this year, proved too strong for the home player.
In a meeting between two players from Argentina, it was qualifier Federico Delbonis who came through against compatriot Carlos Berlocq. Delbonis shrugged off the loss of the first set to edge the veteran 6-7, 7-5, 6-3.
Top seed Albert-Ramos Vinolas is in action in the final match of the day. He takes on former Top 30 player and lucky loser Leonardo Mayer. Mayer’s form has fallen off badly since 2013, a year in which he came within a point of defeating Roger Federer.
