KITZBUEHEL ( Austria): Two-time champion Robin Haase started his title defense by defeating Guillaume Rufin of France 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the first round of the bet-at-home Cup on Tuesday.
The 68th-ranked Dutchman was a break up in the second set but lost his lead before converting his second match point in the tiebreaker. He finished with 10 aces.
Haase, who won the event in 2011 and ’12 and reached his third career final in Gstaad last weekend, will next play Daniel Brands. The German beat fifth-seeded Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2.
Also, Victor Hanescu of Romania defeated Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia 6-2, 6-1, and Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic ousted Aldin Setkic of Bosnia by the same score.
