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After squandering a mini-break led in the second set breaker, Donald Young finally held his nerve in a thrilling win over Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3).
“I fought a lot of nerves,” said Young.
“It was tough playing Stan because you know he can always hit a shot and I haven’t had a bunch of confidence this year. Closing matches is a skill you get from winning and I haven’t done that. But I was able to do that tonight and definitely helped.”
Young will take on Kei Nishikori today.
Meanwhile, Wawrinka is still trying to find his form after knee surgeries.
“It’s a tough loss that’s for sure. It’s painful to lose first round here, especially 7-6 in the third,” Wawrinka said. “I was missing a lot, not feeling the way I wanted. I’m looking for confidence. It’s tough to not win a lot of matches so then you start to think too much on the court.
“I feel I’m really close but at the same time, really far. I know the positive right now is that physically I’m feeling really good. The tennis, I’m practicing well. I know and I’m sure I will get to where I want to be, but it’s a tough, long process and you have to accept.”
Other winners included Daniil Medvedev, Alex Di Minaur, Jared Donaldson and Marcos Baghdatis.
Top seed Alexander Zverev was up a set on Malek Jaziri 6-2 before rains halted play for a final time late Tuesday.
On tap Wednesday, local favorite Frances Tiafoe tackles Hubert Hurkacz. John Isner opens play against Noah Rubin. Nick Kyrgios, Denis Shapovalov, Hyeon Chung, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas are also on court on a day when all remaining players in the men’s draw are in action.
And in the main event, Andy Murray continues his comeback against compatriot Kyle Edmund. Murray leads Edmund 2-1 but Kyle won last month at Eastbourne 6-4, 6-4.
“I’ll have to play much better if I want to win that match, more aggressively,” Murray said after his tough 3-set win over Mackenzie McDonald. “It will help having one more match under my belt.”
In Los Cabos, Juan Martin del Potro opens play against American qualifier Marcos Giron. The Argentine already won in Acapulco earlier this year.
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