MONS, October 6, 2015

Two of the three seeded players in action crashed out out on Day 2 at the Ethias Trophy in Mons.

Local favourite Ruben Bemelmans lost his opening match against Kenny De Schepper 5-7, 6-3, 3-6 in the final match on centre court. De Schepper fired 19 aces against the world number 85 from Belgium and tournament’s seven seed. The 28-year-old Frenchman won 73% of his first service points to close the match after two hours and five minutes taking on Norbert Gombos next.

Fourth seed Marcel Granollers lost to last week’s Orleans Champion Jan-Lennard Struff 5-7, 3-6. The 25-year-old German  saved all of the two break points he faced and converted two of his own to extend his winning streak on the ATP Challenger Tour to 11 consecutive victories. Struff will take on Mirza Basic next, who defeated Russian lucky loser Aslan Karatsev 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 31 minutes.

Dennis Novak knocked out the tournament’s number six Malek Jaziri, winning 7-6, 4-6, 7-6. In the longest Encounter of the day, the 22-year-old Austrian was more solid on his second service, winning 67% of the points to overcome his opponent in two hours and 32 minutes. Novak will face Lukas Lacko next.

With Paul-Henri Mathieu only one of the seeds made it to the second round. The eighth favourite from France beat Yannick Mertens, winning 6-4, 7-5. Mathieu hit four aces and converted five of his eight break points to prevail in one hour and 27 minutes facing Andrea Arnaboldi next.