Lucas Pouille has advanced to the second round of the Erste Bank Open 500 after a three-set fight with German Philipp Kohlschreiber. The 35-year old German put up an incredible fight pushing the titleholder to his limit, but in the end Pouille won the match 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4.
More or less at the same time, American world no. 9, John Isner, needed 2:20 hours to dispatch British qualifier Cameron Norrie 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-6(7).
Nishikori ousts Tiafoe
Japan’s Kei Nishikori also had to fight hard to make his Vienna premier a successful one. Nishikori beat American NextGen youngster Frances Tiafoe after 2:08 hours 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-2.
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) also needed three sets to get over French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-4.