Antoine Bellier (ATP 310) failed to follow up. Forty-eight following his success in the final in San Luis Potosi, the Genevan has not made it past the first round of the Challenger in Aguascalientes.
On Mexican clay, the left-hander was beaten 7-6 (7/3) 5-7 6-3 by Uzbek Denis Istomin (ATP 286). He lost a second time to the one who eliminated Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Australian Open in 2017. Five and a half years ago, Denis Istomin beat Antoine Bellier 6-3 6-2 6-4 in a Davis Cup match in Tashkent.
In Aguascalientes, the debates were much tighter. Antoine Bellier would undoubtedly have had a better fate if he had shown greater success on break points. He only won 2 out of 10.
Marc-Andrea Hüsler (ATP 144) thus remains the only Swiss still in contention in the table. The Zurich player faces this Wednesday in the round of 16 the Colombian Nicolas Mejia (ATP 239).
/ATS
