NEWPORT, R.I. (AP)—Second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov and fifth-seeded Alex Bogomolov advanced in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Monday.
Dimitrov ousted Brian Dabul, a semifinalist in Newport last year, 6-2, 6-4, and Bogomolov rallied against Mischa Zverev, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Sixth-seeded Olivier Rochus, a finalist on Newport’s grass courts last year, also advanced, beating Greg Jones 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Top-seeded John Isner is expected to play Tuesday.
The 20-year old Dimitrov, ranked No. 60 entering the week, is the second youngest player in the top 100 on the ATP tour.
“The beginning was real soft, then I thought I’ve got to improvise,” he said. “I decided to mix up the game.”
Bogomolov enters the week ranked 66th and Rochus is 74th.
Rochus also was a semifinalist in Newport in 2009 and made the quarterfinals in ’08. He’s glad to be back.
“It could have gone either way,” Rochus said. “It’s very nice. I really like this tournament. I came to Newport just for this.”
Isner replaced defending champion and top-seeded Mardy Fish, who withdrew when he was added to the United States Davis Cup team.
In other first-round play, Donald Young defeated Paul Capdeville 6-2, 6-1; Matthias Bachinger edged Dustin Brown 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 6-1; and Ruben Bemelmans ousted Denis Gremelmayr 6-4, 6-2.
The tournament is played in conjunction with Hall of Fame induction ceremonies that highlight the week. Andre Agassi will headline the 2011 class Saturday during a center-court ceremony.