Van Rijthoven Makes Winning Start In Pune

Tim van Rijthoven became the third Dutchman into the second round of the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune on Tuesday, when he sealed a 6-4, 6-4 first-round victory against Radu Albot.

The No. 111-ranked Van Rijthoven clinched the only break of each set in his maiden tour-level meeting against Albot, wrapping up an 86-minute victory behind some big serving in India. The 25-year-old, who lifted his maiden ATP Tour title on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last June, struck 14 aces and saved two break points to set a meeting with Aslan Karatsev. The eighth-seeded Karatsev was a 6-1, 6-3 winner against Pablo Andujar.

Van Rijthoven joins countrymen Tallon Griekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round in Pune. Van de Zandschulp is seeded second at the ATP 250 event, behind Marin Cilic.

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Also on Tuesday, #NextGenATP Italian Flavio Cobolli notched his second tour-level win with a 6-4, 7-5 victory against home wild card Mukund Sasikumar. Cobolli will take on van de Zandschulp on centre court on Wednesday as he bids to reach the third round of an ATP Tour event for the first time.

Ramkumar Ramanathan was the last home hope in the singles draw in western India, but after taking the first set against Pedro Martinez, the 28-year-old qualifier was unable to complete the job. The World No. 62 Martinez pulled through for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory to set a second-round clash against fourth seed Sebastian Baez. That will be a repeat of the 2022 final in Santiago, where Martinez claimed his maiden ATP Tour crown.

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