Hubert Hurkacz battles past Marcos Giron 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 after 2 hours and 8 minutes to reach the second round at the Kinoshita Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.
Both players went on serve until the 10th game, when Hurkacz earned the first break to win the opening set 6-4.
Hurkacz broke serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Giron converted his second break-back in the fifth game and held serve at 15 to draw level to 3-3. Both players went on serve en route to tie-break. Giron earned a mini-break to take a 3-1 lead. Hurkacz pulled back on serve to draw level to 3-3. Giron won the final three points to close out the tie-break 7-5.
Hurkacz converted his second break in the opening game of the third set to open up a 2-0 lead. Giron saved two break points in the third game. Hurkacz served out the win on his first match point.
Hurkacz improved to 3-0 in his head-to-head against either this year’s US Open semifinalist Jack Draper or Mattia Bellucci.
Frenchman Ugo Humbert cruised past Japanese wild card and last year’s Tokyo semifinalist Shintaro Mochizuki 6-1 6-2 in 77 minutes.
Humbert hit 15 winners and saved both break points he faced. The Frenchman, who won two ATP Tour titles this year, will face either Frances Tiafoe or Brandon Nakashima. In the second round.
