AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) Thomaz Bellucci beat American qualifier Michael Russell 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-5 Tuesday in the first round of the Heineken Open tennis tournament.
Bellucci, the No. 7 seed, led 6-4, 5-3 before wavering, dropping the second set and falling behind 3-0 in the third set.
The 32-year-old American then won seven straight games to capture the second set in a tiebreaker and to lead by two service breaks in the third.
Bellucci had made 32 unforced errors by the third game of the final set but he then lifted his game, falling in behind the swinging left-handed serve which had been strong in the first set and at the start of the second.