DAY 1 of the Newport Beach Challenger brought plenty of interest with a host of tight clashes in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. It is fair to say that it was dominated by Americans with 15 players from the United States making it through to the next stage.

One the biggest upsets of the day was between Alexa Glatch and Eugenie Bouchard with the American disposing of the Canadian in straight sets 6-1 6-2. It was a clinical performance by Glatch who got the job done in just over an hour. She was in complete control from the beginning of the match and did not look fazed by Bouchard continuing her business and making her pay at every opportunity. It was easy pickings for Glatch who forced her opponent to run ragged across the court and ultimately progress through to the next stage.

The battle between Kayla Day and Hayley Baptiste was tantalising with the match pushing out to a three setter before Baptiste prevailed and moved through to the next round 6-4 4-6 3-6. After a slow start to the match Baptiste found some form downing fellow countrywoman in a gruelling two-hour match. Day started with a bang winning the first set, 6-4 but lost her mojo as the contest went on, allowing Baptiste to dictate the play and take home the chocolates. The match between Ana Sofia Sanchez and Jovana Jaksic also followed suit with the two falling four minutes short of a three-hour epic. Both players left no stone unturned with Sanchez getting the early ascendancy before Jaksic piled on the pressure in the second to level it with one set a piece. Unfortunately, the Croatian could not maintain that high standard of pressure falling away in the third to drop the set and ultimately match 6-4 6-7 6-4.

After a sluggish start, American, Donald Young got the job done against Brandon Nakashima 1-6 7-6 6-4. Nakashima dominated the first set only allowing Young to win one game but the tables started to turn in the second with Young building into the match and creating some winning momentum. The American continued that form into the third making light work of his fellow countryman and booking his place in the next round. Young was strong on the serve dishing up six aces and winning 65 per cent of his first serves while Nakashima managed three aces of his own and a winning percentage of 59 on the first serve.

The two-hour match between Sandro Ehrat and American Sebastian Korda brought plenty of heat and intensity with the latter winning in three sets 3-6 6-4 2-6. Korda won the first set with ease but was challenged in the second thanks to Ehrat lifting his intensity and capitalising on his opportunities to take it to a third set. But the American fired back using his serve to full effect racking up winning a whopping 70 per cent of first serves and while he only managed three aces his consistency was key. Pair that with his coverage across the court saving seven of eight break points and Korda impressed on Day 1 of Newport Beach.

In other results Aussie, Aleksander Vukic progressed through to the next stage defeating Ulises Blanch in straight sets 6-2 7-5 while American Michael Redlicki downed compatriot Ryan Harrison in just over an hour and 10 minutes 7-5 6-2. Italian, Sara Errani dominated in her performance against Marcela Zacarias 6-1 6-2 to live another day while Claire Lui followed in her footsteps against Jamie Loeb 6-4 6-2.