Bolt defeats seeded Seppi in Los Cabos

Australian Alex Bolt has continued his impressive form to advance to the second round at an ATP 250 tournament in Mexico.


Tuesday 20 July 2021
Leigh Rogers
Los Cabos, Mexico
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Alex Bolt of Australia hits a forehand in the Finals match against Kamil Majchrzak of Poland during the ATP Challenger Final of the Nottingham Trophy at Nottingham Tennis Centre on June 20, 2021 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images for LTA)

Alex Bolt has recorded his fourth top-100 win of the season to advance to the second round at an ATP 250 tournament in Los Cabos.

The No.148-ranked Bolt staged an impressive comeback to defeat seventh-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi 0-6 6-2 6-3 in the opening round.

After winning only five points on serve against the world No.87 in the opening set, 28-year-old Bolt bounced back to defeat the 37-year-old veteran in a 96-minute battle.

It is Bolt's fifth main-draw win at tour-level this season - the most he has ever recorded in a single year.

Bolt will look to continue his winning run when he plays either Ecuador's Emilo Gomez or Colombian qualifer Nicolas Mejia in the second round. Victory would propel the left-handed Australian into his second career ATP Tour-level quarterfinal.

Meanwhile, Thanasi Kokkinakis fired 23 aces in his opening-round clash with American Denis Kudla - but it wasn't enough to secure a victory. Kudla edged out the Australian in a hard-fought three-hour battle to record a 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(3) win.

In doubles action, Matt Ebden and John-Patrick Smith scored a three-set win against Finland's Harri Heliovaara and Mexican Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela.

Aussies in action - Los Cabos

RESULTS
Men's singles, first round

Alex Bolt (AUS) d [7] Andreas Seppi (ITA) 0-6 6-2 6-3
Denis Kudla (USA) d [WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(3)

Men's doubles, first round
[4] Matt Ebden (AUS)/John-Patrick Smith (AUS) d Harri Heliovaara (FIN)/Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela (MEX) 6-3 6-7(6) [10-6]

COMING UP
Men's singles, first round
[5] Jordan Thompson (AUS) v (WC) Ivo Karlovic (CRO)
[Q] Matt Ebden (AUS) v Elias Ymer (SWE)

Men's singles, second round
Alex Bolt (AUS) v TBC

Men's doubles, first round
Alex Bolt (AUS)
/Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [WC] Ernesto Escobedo (USA)/Luis Patino (MEX)

Men's doubles, quarterfinals
[4] Matt Ebden (AUS)/John-Patrick Smith (AUS) v [WC] Mackenzie McDonald (USA)/Sam Querrey (USA)