Gijs Brouwer has booked an important victory at the Houston tennis tournament. The Dutchman, who made his ATP debut on American clay a year ago, very surprisingly reached the quarterfinals, defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic in two sets: 6-4 and 6-4.
Due to his sensational performance last year, Brouwer has many points to defend in the city where he was born in 1996. He currently occupies 123rd place in the world ranking. A first round elimination would have ushered in a free fall.
Brouwer faces a tough challenge in the next round. He then takes on fourth seed John Isner (ATP-46). The 37-year-old American veteran was allowed to skip the first round because of his high ranking.
The 27-year-old Brouwer did not get past the first round of the qualifying tournament in Miami last month. The number 3 in the Netherlands (behind Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Fransespoor) then had to acknowledge his superior in the Frenchman Benoît Paire with 6-3, 6-4.
Svitolina loses on return
Elina Svitolina made a disappointing comeback at the WTA tournament in Charleston. The former number 3 in the world went down against Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 4-6.
Svitolina was directly admitted to the main tournament with a wild card. The Ukrainian played her last tournament in March last year, in Miami. In October, she gave birth to a daughter.
Svitolina announced last month to work together with coach Raemon Sluiter.
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