AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Two-time champion Roberto Bautista Agut was knocked out of the ASB Basic within the first spherical Tuesday, crushed 6-4, 6-3 by fellow Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
Bautista Agut received the Auckland title in 2016, beating John Isner and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in early matches, and once more in 2018 when he beat Juan Martin del Potro within the last.
He missed a considerable a part of the 2023 season when he was injured in a horse-riding incident in July. He returned in October and reached a last at Valencia in November and the quarterfinals in Hong Kong final week.
Bautista Agut nonetheless appeared a little bit rusty at the beginning of his match Tuesday in opposition to his pal and coaching companion.
He dropped serve within the opening sport and once more to path 4-1, showing to be a little bit torpid and missing contact.
However he rallied when he held serve within the seventh sport that went to deuce 9 instances, saving six break factors. Carballes Baena crashed into unoccupied courtside seating as he ran to chase down a large overhead shot from Bautista Agut late in that sport.
He was caught awkwardly for a while, doubled over a low barrier. Bautista Agut and the chair umpire raced to his help and he was capable of resume after a brief break.
Bautista Agut held serve, then broke Carballes Baena to get again into the set however Carballes Baena served out the set within the subsequent sport.
Bautista Agut broke within the second sport of the second set however Carballes Baena broke again after which took a 3-2 lead.
He confronted heavy stress in his subsequent service sport, shedding 4 consecutive factors after main 40-0. He recovered and took the sport and from then on had little hassle clinching the match in 1 hour, 43 minutes.
“It is at all times robust taking part in in opposition to Robert, he is a very good pal and we apply collectively and it was actually tough,” Carballes Baena mentioned. “However I believe I did an amazing match. I used to be actually aggressive and serving very well.”
Defending champion Richard Gasquet additionally made a first-round exit, shedding 6-3, 6-4 to sixth-seeded Arthur Fils.
The loss means Gasquet will drop out of the highest 100 for the primary time since April 2005 when the subsequent rankings are launched. He has spent 956 consecutive weeks as a prime 100 participant. The ATP mentioned the 37-year-old Gasquet wanted to succeed in the ultimate in Auckland to stay within the prime 100.
Former No. 10-ranked Denis Shapovalov additionally went out within the first spherical in his first aggressive match again since a fourth-round loss at Wimbledon in July attributable to a severe knee damage.
He misplaced 6-4, 6-2 to in-form Austrian Sebastian Ofner, who reached the semifinals in Hong Kong final week.
The Canadian was attributable to play qualifying in Auckland however acquired a wild card.
Shapovalov appeared assured on his knee however wasn’t at full stretch. He nonetheless timed and hit the ball properly however dropped service video games early in each units.
“He was nonetheless a bit struggling which was good for me however it’s good to see him again and wholesome,” Ofner mentioned.
