THE number one ranked player at the Houston Open is out after Russian, Karen Khachanov was defeated by unseeded Serbian, Laslo Djere in a huge victory. Djere claimed the big scalp in the final match of the day, having to resettle himself after dropping the second set to come out on top of the world number 15. Ranked 73rd himself, the win will give him a boost down the lower end of the top 100, and Djere moves into the second round courtesy of his 6-2 6-7 6-1 victory.

The other three seeds in action on the second day were able to advance through to the next round. Sixth seed, Nikoloz Basilashvili had the easiest time, wasting just 65 minutes to take out Finnish qualifier, Henri Laaksonen 6-0 6-4 after winning the first eight games of the match. It was a little tougher for third seed, Dusan Lajovic who dropped the first set to Australian Jordan Thompson, before bouncing back for a 3-6 6-4 6-2 victory.

Eighth seed and clay court star, Casper Ruud got the job done against John Millman, but he too dropped the first set to the Australian. Losing the opening set 7-5, Ruud looked up against it taking on the dogged Australian, but managed to find his grove once surviving a nail-biting encounter in the second set. Just getting through a tiebreaker 7-5, Ruud ran away with it in the last set to win 5-7 7-6 6-1. He now takes on American Reilly Opelka in the second round.

Opelka moved through after a come-from-behind win over qualifier Hyeong Chung, 6-7 7-6 7-5 with both players on serve and doing well. He was one of only two Americans through to the next round at Houston, after Tommy Paul also fell in the Round of 32. It was Croatian, Borna Coric who spoiled the party for Paul with a 3-6 6-4 6-3 win, while Swede up-and-comer Mikael Ymer had an easier time with a 7-5 6-1 win over Brit, Cameron Norrie. The final match saw Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas advance to the next round to take on Djere after a 6-1 2-6 7-5 victory over Italian wildcard, Marco Cecchinato.

In a big day three of action, fifth seed German Jan-Lennard Struff heads out to take on South African wildcard, Kevin Anderson, while British star Andy Murray faces France’s Jeremy Chardy. In the other two games, Lorenzo Sonego takes on Marcel Granollers and American Sam Querrey tackles Slovenian Alijaz Bedene.

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

Laslo Djere (SRB) defeated [1] Karen Khachanov (RUS) 6-2 6-7 6-1
[3] Dusan Lajovic (SRB) defeated Jordan Thompson (AUS) 3-6 6-4 6-2
[6] Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) defeated [Q] Henri Laaksonen (FIN) 6-0 6-4
[8] Casper Ruud (NOR) defeated John Millman (AUS) 5-7 7-6 6-1
Pablo Cuevas (URU) defeated [WC] Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 6-1 2-6 7-6
Reilly Opelka (USA) defeated [Q] Hyeon Chung (TAI) 6-7 7-6 7-5
Borna Coric (CRO) defeated Tommy Paul (USA) 3-6 6-4 6-3
Mikael Ymer (SWE) defeated Cameron Norrie (GBR) 7-5 6-1