Granollers beats Zverev to advance at Halle
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Sixth-seeded Marcel Granollers defeated Mischa Zverev 6-4, 6-2 Tuesday to reach the second round of the Gerry Weber Open.
The 26-year-old Granollers overcame resistance from the Russian-born Zverev, who is ranked 190th.
Zverev held his serve and saved six break points before Granollers finally broke him in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead to take the first set. The 22nd-ranked Spaniard broke the German twice in the second to wrap up the match.
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Granollers will play veteran Tommy Haas, who advanced after Bernard Tomic retired after 22 minutes while trailing 5-2. Haas said Tomic had told him he'd been ill.
Also, Radek Stepanek edged seventh-seeded Andreas Seppi 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (7).
Viktor Troicki stopped Benjamin Becker 6-2, 7-6 (6) to set up a second round meeting with third-seeded Tomas Berdych.
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Earlier, Florian Mayer beat American qualifier Tim Smyczek in straight sets to set up a second round meeting with five-time winner Roger Federer on Wednesday.
The same day, Rafael Nadal will open against Lukas Lacko, who beat Konstantin Kravchuk 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round.
Nadal won a record seventh French Open championship on Monday after defeating top-ranked Novak Djokovic at Rolland Garros.