By Tennis Now | Tuesday, October 16, 2018

 

Tennys Sandgren smacked 14 aces toppling fifth-seeded Lucas Pouille, 6-4, 6-4, and Hyeon Chung swept Taylor Fritz in impressive Stockholm openers.

Photo credit: Gustaf Adolfsson/Intrum Stockholm Open

Tennys Sandgren served up an immaculate Stockholm start.

In his Stockholm debut, Sandgren smacked 14 aces and won 26 of 29 first-serve points toppling fifth-seeded Lucas Pouille, 6-4, 6-4.

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The 62nd-ranked Sandgren permitted just 10 points on serve and saved the only break point he faced with an ace.

The Australian Open quarterfinalist will play either lucky loser Jurgen Zopp or qualifier Oscar Otte in round two.

Qualifier Ernests Gulbis spoiled the homecoming of Mikael Ymer with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Gulbis saved all six break points he faced and dropped just six points on his first serve in a one hour, 49-minute victory that leaves Mikael Ymer's brother, Elias Ymer, as the lone Swedish man still standing in the singles field.

Mikael Ymer saved a second match point jumping on a mid-court forehand and jolting a winner down the line.

On the third match point, the Swede put a forehand into the middle of the net to end it. Gulbis will play the winner of the all-Canadian first-round clash between qualifier Peter Polansky and seventh-seeded Denis Shapovalov in the second round.