For his first participation to Play In Challenger, Lucas Pouille (289th) was at home this Tuesday in Lille. Cheered up by more than 1 000 people who stayed very late to bring support to local hero, the player of Loon-Plage successfully took out with authority South African Lloyd Harris (180th) in two sets : 7-6, 6-3 and 1h33. « I am delighted to play again in my region, at home. The last time was in 2018… to start the match at 10 PM and to enter into the court with packed crowd, that is great. It was a good first round, I am very happy to have won in two sets. I could have won more easily at the end but … I won and was able to well managed few critical moments in this match. These are small details but which are crucial for confidence, explained Lucas.
Three sets, three hours game duration : the Belgium opposition between Joris De Loore (211rd) and Zizou Bergs took a long time to decide a winner. The first one eventually took the best, after however losing the first set (4-6, 7-5, 7-6). Some regrets for Zizou Bergs, winner in Lille in 2021, who served for the match in the third set.
No problem for Pierre-Hugues Herbert (166th), solid and focus to take down in two sets (6-4, 6-4) the courageous Arthur Bouquier (612th), who joined main draw with a wild card for qualifyings. In the 100% French matches of the day, Tristan Lamasine (285th) defeated Antoine Escoffier (201rd) 7-6, 7-5 and and Titouan Droguet (167th) Manuel Guinard (256th) 7-6, 6-2.
It is Benoît Paire and Arthur Rinderknech to play
End of the first round this Wednesday, with first steps in the competition of Benoît Paire (110th), who will play Belgium Alexander Blockx (313rd). The French will try to do better than last year after his first round elimination. Another French player, Arthur Rinderknech (90th) will begin his tournament against promsing Swiss Leandro Riedi (160th). Winner of last year, Otto Virtanen (131th) will begin the defense of its title against German Oscar Otte (286th), lucky-loser.
Beginning also of the second round with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (170th), who upset this Tuesday Jan Choinski (6-3, 1-6, 6-1), who will be faced to Japaneese Sho Shimabukuro (175th). Qualified without any problem on Monday, Grégoire Barrère (124th) will be faced to Syrian Hazem Naw (337e).
