Granollers surprised Fritz at Men's Clay Court Championship

Former champion Marcel Granollers used the drop shot to good effect as he surprised fifth-seeded American Taylor Fritz in three sets at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston on Monday. The 32-year-old Spaniard claimed a 6-2 4-6 6-2 victory over Fritz, the only seeded player in first round action at the River Oaks Country Club.

"Taylor is a player who can hit very hard. He hits very hard from the baseline and I needed to change rhythm," said Granollers, who won the tournament in 2008. "If I hit good drop shots, I think it’s a good option against him and I think today it worked."

Granollers reeled off three consecutive games, including a break at 5-2, to claim the opening set. World number 58 Fritz bounced back in the second, surging ahead after Granollers had tied the set at 4-4. The deciding set was all Granollers after Fritz, the 2018 semi-finalists, took the opening game. Granollers won five consecutive games before Fritz held at 5-2.

Earlier, Norway's Casper Ruud made his River Oaks debut by defeating Bolivian Hugo Dellien 7-6(7) 6-4. His father, Christian, won the tournament in 1996 when it was a non-ATP Tour event. Former champion Ivo Karlovic was not as fortunate as Ruud and the 40-year-old Croat, who won in 2007, fell to American Ryan Harrison 6-3 6-4.

Australian Bernard Tomic and Chile's Christian Garin also advanced. Tomic, firing 11 aces, outlasted American Denis Kudla 7-6(8) 7-5 and Garin came from a set down to top Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 4-6 6-4 6-2. Top-seeded American Steve Johnson is seeking to become the first player to win three consecutive titles in the tournament since Bobby Riggs did in 1936-38.

(With inputs from agencies.)