Dolgopolov beats Gabashvili in Delray Beach 1st round

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) Third-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine won just his second match of the season with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in the first round of the Delray Beach Open.

He was joined in the second round by wild card Denis Kudla, a resident of nearby Boca Raton, who beat Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-3, 6-4.

Dolgopolov, who went 14-4 during a spring swing last year that included wins over then-No. 1 Rafael Nadal and Australian Open champ Stan Wawrinka, has struggled since undergoing knee surgery in May. He had lost his last three matches, including a first-rounder in Memphis last week.

Kudla, who was born in the Ukraine but moved to the U.S. on his first birthday, reached the round of 16 in Memphis.