Fellow countryman surpises Mahut

Three-time Ricoh Open champion Nicolas Mahut has encountered a surprising defeat in the second round. The Frenchman was beaten by fellow countryman and lucky loser Julien Benneteau with 3-6 6-2 6-2.

It was the players’, who are both 35-years-old, first meeting since 2007. Mahut had, before their match in Rosmalen, an advantage of 3-0 in direct confrontations.

Benneteau is known, among others, for his ‘finals curse’. He reached a final on the highest level ten times, but the veteran never succeeded to win a title. Mahut, however, won four titles, three of them on the Brabant grass.

Benneteau is awaiting a fierce battle, as he will meet second seed and world number 10 Alexander Zverev in the quarter finals.

Gilles Muller, last year’s finalist at the Ricoh Open, defeated Italy’s Andreas Seppi: 7-6(5) 6-4. The fourth seed from Luxemburg will play against Aljaz Bedene. The Brit, eighth seed, won the match against Ernesto Esobedo from the USA with 6-3 6-4.