Newport Tennis Hall of Fame Classic Off to a Great Start - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

NEWPORT, R.I., July 9, 2012 - On Opening Day at the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, Newport fans were treated to some outstanding matches from start to finish. In the first match on center court, young American Jack Sock, who received a wild card into the tournament, came on strong in the first set, winning 7-5 over Russia's Igor Kunitsyn. After Kunitsyn dominated the second set, winning 6-1, Sock came back to win 6-4, earning his second career tour-level match. The match was Sock's first since being sidelined with an injury in March, and his first time ever playing on grass courts.  

"Last Thursday was my first time hitting on grass in my life, so it was a new experience. But I think it suits my game well. I really enjoyed it out there," said Sock.

Ryan Harrison

Newport's two-time runner up Olivier Rochus advanced, defeating Go Soeda in three sets, and Michael Russell won over Donald Young, also in three sets.

 In doubles action, the Aussie pairing of Leyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione defeated James Cerretani and Matt Ebden, who won the 2011 Newport doubles title with Harrison.

The qualifying round concluded today with Benjamin Becker, Izak Van Der Merwe, Sergei Bubka, and Tim Smyczek earning spots in the main draw.

The first round of the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships continues tomorrow with some of the draw's biggest names taking to the courts, including defending champion John Isner, who will play Sergei Bubka; Canada's No. 1 player Milos Raonic versus Matt Ebden, Kei Nishikori versus Igor Sisling, Lleyton Hewitt versus Vasek Pospisil, and Newport's 2009 finalist Sam Querrey versus Alex Bogomolov, Jr.  

RESULTS - JULY 9, 2012

Click here for a downloadable PDF of the Main Draw. 

Singles - First Round

[6] [WC] R Harrison (USA) d R Bemelmans (BEL) 76(8) 67(5) 75

M Russell (USA) d [7] D Young (USA) 16 61 64

N Mahut (FRA) d M Chiudinelli (SUI) 60 76(2)

[WC] J Sock (USA) d I Kunitsyn (RUS) 75 16 64

D Sela (ISR) d F Dancevic (CAN) 60 62

O Rochus (BEL) d G Soeda (JPN) 64 36 63

Doubles - First Round

[3] S Gonzalez (MEX) / S Lipsky (USA) d M Matosevic (AUS) / G Zemlja (SLO) 64 76(4)

[WC] C Guccione (AUS) / L Hewitt (AUS) d [4] J Cerretani (USA) / M Ebden (AUS) 63 64

Qualifying Singles

Qualifying - B Becker (GER) d A Kuznetsov (USA) 26 76(1) 63

Qualifying - I Van der Merwe (RSA) d A Mannarino (FRA) 46 63 64

Qualifying - S Bubka (UKR) d C Brezac (FRA) 63 76(5)

Qualifying - T Smyczek (USA) d D Udomchoke (THA) 63 64

ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Click here for a downloadable PDF of the Order of Play.

CENTER COURT start 11:00 am

I Sijsling (NED) vs [2] K Nishikori (JPN)

[3] M Raonic (CAN) vs M Ebden (AUS)

[1] J Isner (USA) vs [Q] S Bubka (UKR)

V Pospisil (CAN) vs [WC] L Hewitt (AUS)

COURT 1 start 11:00 am

[5] A Bogomolov Jr. (RUS) vs S Querrey (USA)

[Q] T Smyczek (USA) vs [4] D Istomin (UZB)

G Zemlja (SLO) vs R Ram (USA)

Not Before 3:00 pm

[5] L Dlouhy (CZE) / N Mahut (FRA) vs J Fruttero (USA) / D Istomin (UZB)

R Ram (USA) / M Russell (USA) vs [Alt] B Becker (GER) / I Kunitsyn (RUS)

COURT 2 start 11:00 am

[Q] B Becker (GER) vs D Goffin (BEL)

[Q] I Van der Merwe (RSA) vs [8] G Muller (LUX)

M Matosevic (AUS) vs J Levine (USA)

Not Before 3:00 PM

D Goffin (BEL) / O Rochus (BEL) vs A Bogomolov Jr. (RUS) / G Muller (LUX)

Shots of the Day! Click here to see more great photos from Opening Day on our Facebook Page.