World No. 317 Russian Ivan Gakhov defeated Spain`s Alex Marti-Pujolras, ranked No. 343 in the ATP standings, in the opening round of the Tunisia Challenger. Gakhov secured the win in a hard-fought three-set encounter with scores of 6/7(5), 7/6(3), 6/1.
The intense match lasted a significant 2 hours and 56 minutes. This victory also leveled their head-to-head record, bringing it to 1-1.
Match Statistics:
| Gakhov | Marti-Pujolras | |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 2 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 5 | 12 |
| Breaks Won | 8 | 5 |
| Total Points Won | 115 | 98 |
Gakhov, who successfully advanced through the qualifying rounds at this tournament, has now extended his impressive winning streak to eight consecutive matches. This strong run includes his recent triumph at the ITF M25 event in Santa Margherita di Pula last week, where he clinched the title.
In the second round in Tunisia, Gakhov is set to face Australia`s Bernard Tomic.
Marcus Prine