It was a routine start to the Auckland tournament for the 6th seed Pablo Cuevas. The Uruguayan defeated Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-3, 6-2 to book a meeting with Karen Khachanov in the second round.
Cuevas got off to a hot start, winning the first three games. He held with few problems before he negotiated a pair of break-back points in game seven. Cuevas had chances to take the set on the Daniel serve, but missed two set points. The seed instead served out.
Cuevas broke twice in the first five games of the second, before Daniel showed some fight to retrieve one. Cuevas recovered the double break lead though, and eased through his final game.
Steve Johnson joined Cuevas in round two, but it was not quite so comfortable for the American. Johnson defeated lucky loser Liam Caruana 7-5, 7-6. Caruana broke for 4-2 in the first, but Johnson quickly retrieved the break with a stunning lob on break point.
Caruana’s forehand was good, but Johnson often stayed in the point long enough to earn an error. This saw the American claim the opener.
Caruana seemed undaunted by the loss of the opener. Both men held through the first nine games of the second with few issues. It was then that Caruana applied pressure to the Johnson serve. Caruana earned four break (and set) points, but the American’s serve dug him out of trouble.
Johnson took early control of the tie break and never relinquished it. The American served out to book his spot in round two against 5th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
In the early other match Peter Gojowczyk overcame a second set wobble to defeat American qualifier Tim Smyczek 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Gojowczyk will face top seed and defending champion Jack Sock in the second round.
