Rafael Leads Solo Brazilian Bid At Home

Whilst a number of lower seeds fell by the wayside on the opening day of the Brazil Open, fifth seed Rafael F Alarcon kept local hopes alive with an 11-4 11-3 11-4 victory over fellow Brazilian Saverio Christovam in Goiania-Goias.

The 27-year-old from Sao Paulo now goes on to face top-seeded Spaniard Borja Golan, the defending champion who beat Egyptian qualifier Ahmed Mohsen Hassaan 11-5 11-4 11-6.

Second seed Bradley Ball had a difficult time against the former four-times Canadian champion Sabir Butt but,after losing the first, the Englishman went on to win 7-11 11-4 11-5 11-7 in 56 minutes.

US junior Christopher Gordon pulled off the biggest upset of the day by beating Dutchman Dylan Bennett, the fourth seed, 11-7 11-4 11-9. The unseeded 18-year-old from New York now goes ahead to face another non-seeded player Fabian Kalaitzis, from Greece, who upset David Phillips, the sixth seed from Canada, 11-5 11-5 2-0 retired.

1st round:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Ahmed Mohsen Hassaan (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (32m)
[5] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt Saverio Christovam (BRA) 11-4, 11-3, 11-4 (21m)
[3] Stephane Galifi (FRA) bt [Q] Rogerio Silvestre (BRA) 11-6, 11-1, 11-4 (19m)
[Q] Niall Rooney (IRL) bt [7] Jago Nardelli (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5 (40m)
Fabian Kalaitzis (GRE) bt [6] David Phillips (CAN) 11-5, 11-5, 2-0 ret. (17m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [4] Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (25m)
[Q] Jorge Gutierrez (ARG) bt [8] Ashley Flathers (ENG) 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 4-11, 11-2, 11-7 (46m)
[2] Bradley Ball (ENG) bt Sabir Butt (CAN) 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (56m)