Second seed Zverev beats Bautista Agut 6-4 6-4
Tuesday 2 October 2018 19:34, UK
Juan Martin del Potro cruised into the China Open second round with a 7-5 6-2 win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Tuesday.
The Argentine world No 3, playing his first match since losing the US Open final to Novak Djokovic, will play Russia's Karen Khachanov on Wednesday as the top seed looks to win his 23rd Tour title.
Del Potro can book his spot at the season-ending ATP Finals in London if he reaches the final in Beijing while Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Djokovic have already qualified for the event at The O2.
Spain's Ramos-Vinolas, ranked No 50, broke his opponent in the first set but it wasn't enough to stop an inspired Del Potro, who hit ten aces and won 86 per cent of his first-service points in what was a comfortable victory.
Second seed Alexander Zverev enjoyed a 6-4 6-4 win against Roberto Bautista Agut in what was his first competitive match since losing in the third round of the US Open.
The German world No 5 next faces Tunisia's Malek Jaziri and could potentially meet Del Potro in the final of the 500 Series event.
Elsewhere at the China Open, third seed Grigor Dimitrov defeated American Tennys Sandgren 7-5 6-3 while Nikoloz Basilashvili piled more misery on the United States by knocking out sixth seed Jack Sock 6-7 (6-8) 7-5 6-2.
Spain's Fernando Verdasco, who eliminated Andy Murray at both the US Open and Shenzhen Open this season, recorded a nail-biting 2-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) win over Gael Monfils.
Radu Albot fell to Fabio Fognini with the Italian winning 1-6 6-3 6-3, Russia's Andrey Rublev recorded a straight-sets win over Joao Sousa 6-0 6-4 and Marco Cecchinato knocked out Marcos Baghdatis 1-6 6-4 7-5.
Mischa Zverev defeated Filip Krajinovic 6-1 6-4, while Matteo Berrettini beat Leonardo Mayer 6-3 6-2.
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Tennis is back on Sky Sports screens with the Japan Open & China Open in October while we will also have coverage of the ATP Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports.
