AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Australian qualifier Greg Jones upset sixth-seeded Austrian Jurgen Melzer 7-6 (7), 6-2 in the first round of the Heineken Open.
The 23-year-old Jones, whose ranking slumped from 187 to 373 during 2012, posted his first win in an ATP Tour match at the expense of the 29th-ranked Melzer.
Tall, rangy and powerful, Jones matched the 31-year-old Melzer shot for shot in the first set, which went into a tiebreak without a break of serve on either side. In the tiebreaker, he came from 6-4 down to win it 9-7 then, growing in confidence, claimed the second set in 30 minutes.
Another qualifier to win was Igor Sijsling, who beat Dutch compatriot Robin Haase 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
