ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Andreas Haider-Maurer of Austria beat Daniel Gimeno Traver of Spain on Monday in the first round of the St. Petersburg Open, which returned to the ATP tour following a one-year absence.
The day's only main-draw singles match was close until Haider-Maurer seized the initiative in the second-set tiebreaker, taking the first five points on his way to winning 7-5, 7-6 (2).
The 61st-ranked Haider-Maurer faces fellow Austrian and third-seeded Dominic Thiem in the second round.
The $1 million St. Petersburg hard-court event was moved to Israel last season but canceled when conflict flared up in the Gaza Strip.