Bogotá, Bogota, Colombia, 16 July 2014 | tennis.com.au

Sam Groth has overcome a stern challenge from wildcard Juan Sebastian Cabal to advance to the second round of the Claro Open Colombia in Bogota.

Groth subdued the local 6-3 6-7(10) 7-6(4) to move into the last 16 at the ATP 250 event, where he will face top seed Richard Gasquet.

On a rain delayed Tuesday in the Colombian capital, Groth claimed the first set in a relative canter but found Cabal difficult to put away.

After the Colombian levelled the match at a set apiece, Groth scored an early break and moved ahead 3-0 and served for a 5-2 lead, only to be broken back and see Cabal level at 4-4.

The final set progressed to a tiebreak, yet Groth was always in control, scoring an early minibreak and using his serve – which produced 22 aces and won him 82 per cent of first serve points – to full effect.

He sealed victory in two hours and 21 minutes.

Fellow Australian Matt Ebden’s first round match was postponed due to the weather; he will face James Ward of Great Britain on Wednesday.

Bernard Tomic will also play on Wednesday, in a second-round match against fifth seed Alejandro Falla of Colombia.