Former Champion Johnson Makes Good Start In Newport

Steve Johnson, the 2018 Infosys Hall of Fame Open champion, made a good start to his pursuit of a second Newport title on Monday.

The American defeated countryman Stefan Kozlov 7-5, 6-3 to reach the second round at the final tour-level grass-court event of the season.

"[My level was] decent when it needed to be decent and average when it needed to be better. I thought I played well at the end of sets, but there was a stretch there in the middle of both sets that I didn't like the way I was playing and executing," Johnson said. "But when you're not doing that and you still get a win, that's a good sign."

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This was the fourth time this year at all levels that Johnson and Kozlov have clashed. After Kozlov took the first two meetings, Johnson has now claimed two in a row, with both coming on grass.

"Glad to get a win today and try to put the first couple this year behind me," Johnson said. "He plays a very awkward, tricky style game and he does it well."

Another American also moved on when Jack Sock clawed past Moldovan Radu Albot 6-1, 7-6(2). Sock is chasing his first tour-level singles title since the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters.

"Definitely a tricky first match against a very solid opponent," Sock said in his on-court interview. "But happy to get through."

German Peter Gojowczyk, a 2017 Newport semi-finalist, eliminated Frenchman Ugo Humbert 7-5, 6-4. Gojowczyk entered the match with a 1-9 tour-level record on the season, but is now 6-2 at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open. He will try to improve that record in the second round against four-time champion John Isner, the second seed.

In an all-Australian battle, Jason Kubler ousted Jordan Thompson 6-2, 6-3 to set a clash against top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is making his Newport debut.

Top Seeds Advance In Doubles
Raven Klaasen and Marcelo Melo, the top seeds in the doubles draw, eased into the second round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Serbian twins Ivan Sabanov and Matej Sabanov.

Indian Ramkumar Ramanathan and Australian John-Patrick Smith upset second seeds Hans Hach Verdugo and Hunter Reese, while Americans Robert Galloway and Alex Lawson ousted Frenchmen Quentin Halys and Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.