First Round Underway at Winnipeg Futures

Filip Peliwo was off to a good start at the 2013 Manshield
Tennis Futures, as he defeated Andrew Ochotta in a close
contest. (Photo: Brian McCann)

By Tennis Canada

Tennis fans in Winnipeg are welcoming the return of the Manshield Futures, a $15,000 International Tennis Federation Pro Circuit event, where the first round of main draw play began at Sargent Park Tennis Garden on Tuesday.

Headlining the tournament is Canada’s own Filip Peliwo, the No. 1 seed who ousted his compatriot Andrew Ochotta, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the first round. Peliwo will now face Patrik Rosenholm of Sweden, who eliminated Canadian George Jecminek 6-4, 6-4 during Tuesday’s play.

Canadians Nikolai Haessig and Philip Bester were unable to find success on the opening day of action, after Haessig was ousted by Sweden’s Isak Arvidsson 6-3, 6-3, and Bester fell to Tunisian Mohamed Abid 6-2, 7-6(4). Abid will take on qualifier David Soafer in the second round, who advanced after his first-round opponent, Sahak Bazrganian, retired at 6-3, 4-2.

The tournament’s No. 3-seeded player, Markus Eriksson, was upset by Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 3-6, 7-6(0), 6-3, while No. 7 seed Ante Pavic of Croatia recovered after dropping the first set to defeat Dimitar Kutovsky 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.

With the remaining first-round matches set to take place Wednesday, there are plenty of opportunities for fans to catch more Canadians competing for spots in the second round.

Two all-Canadian matches will guarantee that at least two more Canucks make the second round. Qualifier Isade Juneau will take on wild card Hugo Di Feo, with the winner advancing to take on Pavic. No. 5 seed Erik Chvojka will be facing Milan Pokrajac for a second-round berth, with the victor next taking on either recent Calgary Futures champion Brayden Schnur or Great Britain’s Luke Bambridge.

Canadian qualifier Daniel Chu will also be playing American Jean-Yves Aubone in hopes of advancing to the second round.

Stay tuned to www.tenniscanada.com for match updates and live scoring throughout the rest of the tournament. For more information about the Manshield Futures, please visit www.winnipegfutures.com.