site.btaWimbledon Junior Champion Ivan Ivanov Loses in First Round of Sofia ATP Challenger

Wimbledon junior champion Ivan Ivanov lost his first match in the main draw of the ATP Challenger Tour-50 in Sofia on Tuesday against 5th seed Marat Sharipov (Russia) 2:6 2:6.

The 16-year-old Bulgarian, who participated with a wild card, fell behind 0:3, which proved decisive for the outcome of the first set. He started the second set by breaking the service game of Sharipov, who has won nine ITF titles in his career, but then lost four games in a row, missing a break point at 2:4. Ivanov was then broken once more for the final 2:6.

Ivanov will also play his first round doubles match later on Tuesday, where he and Naoya Honda (Japan) will face second seeds Nino Serdarusic (Croatia) and Zdenek Kolar (Czech Republic).

The EUR 54,000 ATP Challenger Tour-50 event, which is held at the Bulgarian National WINBET Tennis Centre in Borisova Gradina Park, is with free entrance.

The Tennis Centre in Borisova Gradina Park will also host a EUR 91,000 ATP Challenger Tour-75 event from August 18 to 23.