|
Isner dropped only one point on his first
serve, and broke his Slovakian opponent three times on the
outdoor hardcourt to advance. The big-serving American was also
pleased with the way he returned against 133rd-ranked Lacko.
"It was a good win. I think I'm getting more comfortable on this
surface, especially with the positioning on my return," Isner
said.
"I was challenging him on a lot of return games. I was very
happy how I came through that."
Isner faced only two break points, both in the eighth game of
the second set.
He saved the first with an ace, and the second when Lacko netted
a forehand groundstroke.
Isner let out a huge roar going up 5-3 before serving out to
stay unbeaten in four career meetings against Lacko.
Also on Wednesday, British qualifier Dan Evans qualified for his
first quarter-final since returning from suspension when he
thrashed South African Lloyd Harris 6-0 6-2.
The win came a day after Evans, who returned to the tour last
April after a 12-month ban for a positive cocaine test, came
from behind to upset American Frances Tiafoe in three sets.
In other Italian sixth seed Andreas Seppi outlasted Jordan
Thompson 6-3 4-6 6-1, while French eighth seed Adrian Mannarino
beat Denis Istomin 6-2 7-6(3).
The second round continues on Thursday, with an evening match
between top seed Juan Martin del Potro and American Reilly
Opelka likely to be the highlight.
Opelka on Sunday secured his first ATP title when he won the New
York Open. He beat Isner in a semi-final in New York in a match
that featured a combined 81 aces, an ATP record for a three-set
match.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by
Peter Rutherford)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
