EFE 07/04/2019

EFE - TENNIS WIMBLEDON - Wimbledon: Khachanov ends Feliciano Lopez's brilliant run on grass

London, Jul 3 (EFE).- Karen Khachanov ended the outstanding grass run of Feliciano Lopez, edging a four-set win at Wimbledon. The Russian, 10th-seeded at the third Grand Slam of the season, took two hours and 44 minutes to finish off his opponent, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, knocking the wildcard Spaniard out from the second round. He extended his record to 3-0 against Lopez, who was crowned with the 2019 Queen's Club singles and doubles title two weeks ago. Although the 37-year-old Spaniard fired more aces (18-12) and winners (62-42) than, Khachanov, 23, committed less unforced errors than Lopez (29-39). Both players created 10 break chances apiece, but the promising Russian pro seized on four points, which was the double of his veteran opponent. Next up in the third round, Khachanov is to square off against another Spanish player, Roberto Bautista, who got past injured Steve Darcis. Bautista, the number 23 seed, had a 6-3, 6-2, 4-2 lead after 93 minutes of play when his Belgian rival decided to retire due to physical problems. The 31-year-old's best record at Wimbledon was reaching the round of 16 in the editions of 2015 and 2017, and he will have to get past Khachanov to repeat that feat. Swiss star Stan Wawrinka suffered a five-set blow at the hands of Reilly Opelka. The United States player managed to survive with a 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 win over Wawrinka, after more than three hours of competition. Opelka now has to play another hard clash in the third round against Milos Raonic, as the Canadian player got past Robin Haase of the Netherlands. Belgium's David Goffin also made the third round after defeating Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in three sets, to square off against Daniil Medvedev of Russia who advanced at the expense of Alexei Popyrin. In other second-round action at the All England Club, Spain's Fernando Verdasco snatched a hard-fought five-set win over Kyle Edmund. Verdasco took nearly four hours to battle past his British rival, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-4, to set up a third-round duel against Thomas Fabbiano who eliminated Ivo Karlovic with after a five-set clash. EFE mlm/mn/sdh/rb -- EPA-EFE Multimedia Desk, Madrid +34 913 467 493