WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Defending champion Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic opened with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory Monday over Latvia's Ernests Gulbis in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open.
The 6-foot-5 Rosol served 14 aces and took advantage of a break point in the seventh game of the first set to improve to 3-1 all-time against Gulbis, and 2-1 this year, in the final tournament before next week's U.S. Open.
"It's not easy to defend the title," Rosol said. "It was not easy, because two weeks ago I lost to (Gulbis) at Montreal in the second round.