López winds back the clock in Beijing

Veteran 37 year old Spaniard Feliciano López was granted a wildcard into the China Open in Beijing.

His opening match was a tough assignment against seventh seed Borna Coric.

López was a semi finalist here in 2012, but didn’t look likely to repeat that performance as he slipped to a 2-5 deficit in the opening set.

The former world number 12 then clicked into gear, winning five straight games, on the back of a first serve which garnered 16 points from a possible 18.  López also pressured the Croatian serve, creating seven break opportunities, and converting three.

The lead was 7-5

Set two was all about the serve.  Although the first serve percentage was low, Coric won 89% of points when his initial delivery landed, and López won 100% when his did.

One break point arrived and was converted - Coric the beneficiary - and sets were tied 5-7 7-5.

The decider went with serve and no stress for Feliciano until he faced the Coric serve in the tenth game at 4-5.  Borna saw three match points evaporate, and he failed to win that game and any more.

Feliciano López won an entertaining match lasting two and three quarter hours, 7-5 5-7 7-5

Other ATP Beijing first round results 

• Karen Khachanov defeated Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4
• Marton Fucsovics defeated Andreas Seppi 6-3 6-4
• Kyle Edmund (5) defeated Peter Gojowczyk 3-6 6-1 6-2
• Qualifier Dusan Lajovic defeated qualifier Vasek Pospisil 2-6 6-4 6-4
• Malek Jaziri defeated wildcard Yibing Wu 6-4 6-3

WTA Beijing 

Remaining first round results 

• Carla Suárez Navarro defeated qualifier Yulia Putintseva 6-1 6-0
• Shuai Zhang defeated Elise Mertens (15) 6-1 3-6 6-3
• Naomi Osaka (8) defeated qualifier Zarina Diyas 6-4 6-3
• Karolina Pliskova (7) defeated wildcard Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-4
• Aliaksandra Sasnovich defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu 6-3 6-1
• Garbiñe Muguruza defeated Ekaterina Makarova 6-0 6-4
• Qualifier Katerina Siniakova defeated Alison Van Uytvanck 7-5 6-4
• Petra Martic defeated Barbora Strycova 6-2 6-3
• Caroline Wozniacki (2) defeated Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-3

Second round results 

• Donna Vekic defeated qualifier Ons Jabeur 7-6(5) 6-4
• Anastasija Sevastova received a walkover from Madison Keys (17) 
• Julia Goerges (10) defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-4 4-6 2-2 (retired)

ATP Tokyo first round results 

• Denis Shapovalov defeated Hyeon Chung (7) 6-3 3-6 6-2
• Qualifier Daniil Medvedev defeated Diego Schwartzman (4) 6-4 6-4
• Qualifier Martin Klizan defeated Steve Johnson 6-4 7-6(4)
• 20 year old Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki, ranked 273, defeated Robin Haase 6-7(7) 6-4 6-1
• Milos Raonic (6) defeated Adrian Mannarino 6-3 6-4
• Benoit Paire defeated Nicolas Jarry 6-4 7-6(1)
• Kei Nishikori (3) defeated wildcard Yūichi Sugita 6-4 6-1