This week there are two ATP 250 Tournaments being contested - the Grand Prix Hassan Ii in Marrakech, Morocco, and the Fayez Sarofim & Co. US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, Texas, USA.
The WTA Tour is travelling to Bogotá, Colombia, for the Claro Open Colsanitas, and to Lugano, Switzerland, for the Samsung Open - both International category tournaments.
Marrakech:
Six of the worlds top 50 are in the draw, headed by top seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas (world ranked 23)
In first round matches played so far, Gilles Simon has beaten fellow Frenchman and sixth seed Benoit Paire, in a two hour match requiring tie breaks in the second and deciding sets.
Other seeds to bite the dust first up include Alexandr Dolgopolov (7), dumped 6-2 6-3 by qualifier Andrea Arnaboldi, ranked 221 in the world, a tour pro for 12 years, and playing his first match for 2018.
Also gone is Robin Haase (5), a victim of Mirza Basic 4-6 6-4 7-5
Bogotá:
Top seed is Tatjana Maria, ranked 62 in the world and the other seven seeds are also in the top 100.
Of the seven first round matches completed so far, both seeds involved - Tatjana and Johanna Larsson (3) - won theirs in straight sets.
Lugano:
The seven seeds in the draw all reside in the top 50 - the third seed, Carla Suárez Navarro was a late withdrawal. Top seed is Kiki Mladenovic, ranked 19 in the world.
Qualifying for the main draw is yet to be completed, and the remaining handful of matches will be decided tomorrow, together with the opening schedule of first round matches.
Houston:
Five of the eight seeds are American, including the top three - John Isner (9 in the world), Sam Querrey (14 in the world) and Jack Sock (16 in the world).
The top four seeds have been given first round byes, and of those obliged to play the first round, fifth seed Fernando Verdasco has been eliminated by qualifier Denis Kudla, currently the worlds number 122.
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