TENNIS
Traralgon’s Josh Charlton opened play at the Traralgon Challenger on Saturday in day one of qualifying and marked the occasion with a tight three-set victory over fellow Victorian Jeremy Beale.
The 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory set Charlton up with a meeting against fourth seed Gavin Van Peperzeel in Sunday’s second round after the Queenslander progressed with a 6-2, 6-0 shellacking of Great Britain’s Rhett Purcell.
Charlton struggled early against Peperzeel in the second round and the fourth seed took an early advantage and the first set, 6-1.
Charlton regrouped in the second but was broken on serve late and fell, 5-7 to give Peperzeel a straight sets victory.
In other day one action, sixth seed Jason Kubler enjoyed a comfortable 6-3, 6-0 win over James Frawley.
Eighth seed Thales Turini was the only seeded casualty in Sunday’s play after he was outclassed by Sem Verbeek from the Netherlands.
Verbeek took the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 in 59 minutes.
Second seed Lucas Miedler from Austria started his Traralgon campaign with a tight 6-4, 6-3 victory over Victorian Alexander Babanine.
Miedler will meet another Victorian in tomorrow’s final round, fifth seed Daniel Nolan.
Today, second seed and 2015 Traralgon champion Matthew Ebden takes on Dane Propoggia and Queenslander Maverick Banes faces Tasmanian Harry Bourchier.
Doubles commences today with Brisbane International doubles champions Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jordan Thompson who face Austrian Lucas Miedler and Queenslander Scott Puodziunas.
