San Diego | Evans opens with a comfortable win

Dan Evan, the top seed at the San Diego Open, and the second seeded Jenson Brooksby both opened their accounts following first round byes, with wins on a day which saw four seeds eliminated.

While Britain’s Evans got through to the last eight comfortably 6-4 6-4 against Japan’s Taro Daniel, Brooksby had to contend with a stronger challenge from his American compatriot Mackenzie McDonald before claiming his place in the quarter finals 6-4 3-6 6-2.

“I thought it was definitely a solid match. First match, it’s always good to get through,” Brooksby told the ATP Tour website after his win. “I was feeling really confident with my training since the US Open, back home in Sacramento. We headed here, it’s a short flight and it’s always nice to play in your home state.

“My serve has been feeling pretty good,” he added. “We’ve been working on a couple things. I still need to ingrain it better, but I think when I did that right my serve was getting a lot better, which showed in the stats.”

Brooksby will face Australia’s Chris O’Connell next after the Aussie’s 6-3 7-5 victory against eighth-seeded American JJ Wolf..

In other action fourth seed Pedro Martinez of Spain was also knocked out by Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan who came from behind for his 5-7 6-1 6-4 upset. Galan goes on to face Brandon Nakashima, the fifth seed and San Diego native, who closed the evening’s play with a 6-3 6-4 win against fellow American Denis Kudla 6-3 6-4.

Meanwhile Britain’s No.2, Evans will take on France’s Constant Lestienne, who ousted Chilean sixth seed Alejandro Tabilo, 6-1 6-3.

Also through to the last eight are Marcos Giron of the US, and Australia’s James Duckworth, the former dispatched Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry 6-4 6-3 and the latter, American qualifier Mitchell Krueger 6-3 7-6(4).