NUSSLOCH, January 25, 2017

Laurynas Grigelis headlined first round action at the $25,000 MLP Cup in Nussloch on Wednesday. The number two seed of the ITF Pro Circuit event held at the local Racket Center fought past German qualifier Johannes Haerteis 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Grigelis, who opens his season with the indoor tournament in Germany, converted four of his seven break point chances and won 11 points more than his opponent to secure victory in one hour and nine minutes. The World No. 265 from Lithuania will next take on Jan Choinski. The 20-year-old German knocked off Elmar Ejupovic, who claimed his maiden Future title in Kaarst last Sunday, winning 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes.

Nils Langer (photo: Thomas Schulte)

Nussloch’s defending champion and finalist of the inaugural Koblenz Open on Sunday, Nils Langer, fell in the opening round 2-6, 4-6 to fellow German Robin Kern. The latter didn’t lose his serve and broke his opponent three times to advance in only 69 minutes.

Next up for Kern will be the tournament’s number three Eduardo Struvay. The World No. 278 from Colombia fired 18 aces to seal a 7-6, 7-6 win over Czech qualifier Dominik Recek in one hour and 44 minutes.