One-time Davis Cup regular Chris Guccione has notched his first main-draw ATP tour win in two years on a successful day for Australians at the Claro Open in Bogota.
Guccione, who has slipped from a career-high No.68 in 2008 to 510th in the rankings, advanced when Evgeny Korolev retired injured while trailing 6-1 1-0 in their first-round match.
Turning 28 this month, Guccione last won a match on the main tour against Colombian Alejandro Falla in Washington in July 2011.
The former Wimbledon junior finalist has struggled with injuries and mostly been focusing on doubles, partnering Lleyton Hewitt last week at Newport, while also toiling away at occasional lower-level singles events.
Guccione's victory earned him a shot at sixth-seeded local Santiago Giraldo.
Fellow Australian James Duckworth also progressed to the second round with a 6-3 6-4 upset win over Slovenian seventh seed Aljaz Bedene.
Duckworth next faces Canadian Vasel Pospisil for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Another Aussie, Matthew Ebden, is also into the last 16 and will play Falla for a possible crack at top seed Janko Tipsarevic.
In other matches, Ivo Karlovic claimed a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over Juan Ignacio Londero to book a meeting with Dutch third seed Igor Sijsling and Belgian Ruben Bemelmans overcame Colombian wildcard Nicolas Barrientos 7-5 6-3.
Share
