Los Angeles, July 28– Seventh-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and US teenager Ryan Harrison led the youth movement in evidence Tuesday at the ATP Los Angeles hardcourt tournament.
Dimitrov, 20, made short work of two-time Los Angeles champion Tommy Haas, downing the 33-year-old German veteran 6-3, 6-2 in 66 minutes.
The Bulgarian arrived in Los Angeles at a career-high 57th in the world rankings and aiming to improve on two quarter-final appearances on the ATP Tour this year.
Harrison, 19, celebrated his move into the world’s top 100 with a three-set first-round victory over Richard Berankis.
Harrison, who reached his first career semi-final in Atlanta last week, rallied from a set and a break down to notch a 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-3 victory over Lithuania’s Berankis, who is himself 21.
Harrison was already riding high after breaking into the top 100 at 94 after reaching the final four in Atlanta. Another 19-year-old, Daniel Kosakowski, won his first career match at the ATP level as he defeated fellow qualifier Tim Smyczek 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Kosakowski completed his first season representing the University of California at Los Angeles in May, but says he is now going pro and doesn’t plan to return to represent UCLA.
In the second round he’ll face Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, who snapped a five-match losing streak with a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) upset of fifth-seeded Belgian Xavier Malisse. Eighth-seeded Russian Igor Kunitsyn advanced on schedule, beating Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-4, 6-3 to book his place in the second round.
Kunitsyn saved all five break points he faced and broke Gonzalez three times.
Another US university standout was in action Tuesday as Steve Johnson, the reigning national collegiate champion for the University of Southern California, took on Gilles Muller.
Johnson delighted the California fans by taking the first set off Muller, before the Luxembourg veteran rallied to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Wednesday’s schedule features second and third seeds Juan Martin del Potro and Marcos Baghdatis.
Baghdatis will take on Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun while del Potro will close out the action on Wednesday night against James Blake, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Germany’s Michael Berrer.
–Agencies