Thanasi Kokkinakis has made an encouraging start to the DC Open in Washington, rallying from a set down to beat Japan’s Taro Daniel 2-6 6-4 6-4.
The Australian, facing a player ranked 25 places lower, prevailed in two hours 40 minutes and will now play French 13th seed Ugo Humbert.
Another Aussie in Aleksandar Vukic, fresh off his run to last week’s Atlanta Open final, was beaten 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (11-9) by American Brandon Nakashima, while compatriot Max Purcell went down 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 to Californian qualifier Zachary Svajda.
Jordan Thompson is in action against South African veteran Kevin Anderson later on Tuesday night.
In other men’s action, fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov beat Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (7-6) 6-2 and Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng defeated 14th-seeded Ben Shelton 6-2 3-6 6-3 for the second time in as many weeks after eliminating the local favourite in Atlanta.
“I’ve got a…