Querrey defeats local wild card entrant in Auckland; Ferrero, Ginepri also advance

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Sixth-seeded American Sam Querrey advanced to the second round on Monday at the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand, with a routine, 6-4, 7-5, victory over local wild card entrant Daniel King-Turner. The 22-year-old Californian earned his first career victory in Auckland, having lost in his debut last year to Florian Mayer.

Currently ranked at a career-best No. 36 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, Querrey was able to put together an all-around strong performance to earn his first win of the 2009 season despite tossing in six double faults. The 6’6” American smashed eight aces, won 28 of 37 first serve points and was able to break serve on three of four opportunities in the 74-minute match. King-Turner, who is currently ranked No. 463, now falls to 7-8 lifetime in ATP-level main draw matches. In the second round, Querrey will face either Frenchman Florent Serra or qualifier Gilles Muller.

Former World No. 1 and Roland Garros champion Juan Carlos Ferrero (pictured) advanced to the second round when Japanese rising star Kei Nishikori retired with a right forearm injury. Ferrero was leading 5-3 at the time of the injury, backed by three aces and two service breaks. A finalist in Auckland last year, Ferrero improves to 7-4 at the event. The Spaniard will next face either defending champion and fifth-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber or wild card entrant Dominik Hrbaty.

American Robby Ginepri and Serbian Viktor Troicki were also victorious on opening day in Auckland by winning their matches with simplicity. Ginepri cruised past local wild card entrant Jose Statham, 6-2, 6-3, while Troicki smashed eleven aces and broke serve four times against Russian Igor Kunitsyn en route to an easy, 6-1, 6-2, victory. In the second round, Ginepri faces either seventh-seeded Spaniard Albert Montanes or American qualifier John Isner. Troicki will clash with either eighth-seed Juan Monaco or Romanian Victor Hanescu for a place in the quarterfinals.