MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin upset fifth-seeded Denis Kudla 6-1, 7-5 on Wednesday in the second round of the Memphis Open.
Kukushkin, ranked 93rd in the world, got off to a quick start in the opening set against Kudla, the American who entered the tournament at career-best ranking of 59th. The second set was more competitive, but Kudla was unable to overtake Kukushkin.
Kukushkin will play the winner of the night match between top-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan and American Ryan Harrison. Nishikori has won the tournament the last three years.
In other second-round matches, fourth-seeded Sam Querrey of the United States beat Henri Laaksonen of Switzerland 6-3, 6-4, and Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka topped Ukraine's Illya Marchenko 6-1, 6-3.