Fearnley shrugs off painful fall to beat Cobolli

British number 2 Jacob Fearnley brushed disconnected a achy precocious autumn arsenic "just a small tweak" arsenic he impressively dominated Italian 5th seed Flavio Cobolli astatine Eastbourne.

Fearnley cruised done nan first information of nan men's singles pinch a 6-2 6-2 triumph successful 1 hr and 5 minutes.

However, erstwhile starring 5-1 successful nan 2nd set, Fearnley had a nasty gaffe while hitting a baseline backhand which drew concerns from nan crowd, umpire and Cobolli.

Fearnley was capable to spot retired nan triumph and he said, while he had been hurt, he was hopeful it was thing serious.

"Not excessively sure, it was conscionable adrenaline getting maine complete nan line," nan 23-year-old Scot said aft nan match.

"I consciousness a spot of pain, but I'm judge it's thing - conscionable a small tweak."

It was different awesome consequence connected writer for nan world number 51, pursuing his tally to nan quarter-finals astatine Queen's past week.

Fearnley collapsed world number 24 Cobolli 4 times and produced 21 winners to 7 from nan Italian.

Cobolli trim a visibly disconsolate figure, complaining to nan unsympathetic Eastbourne crowd while producing an off-colour show featuring 29 unforced errors.

Fearnley faces American Marcos Giron successful nan past 16.

Earlier, 2024 Eastbourne semi-finalist Billy Harris sewage his run this twelvemonth disconnected to a beardown commencement pinch a daze triumph complete chap British subordinate Cameron Norrie.

Harris, who only qualified for this year's title arsenic a fortunate loser, hit erstwhile Wimbledon semi-finalist Norrie 6-4 6-4 successful Tuesday's 3rd lucifer connected centre court.

For world number 142 Harris, it was only his 2nd triumph complete a subordinate successful nan apical 100 arsenic he impressively saw disconnected 61st-ranked Norrie.

"I knew it would beryllium a reliable lucifer today," Englishman Harris said. "I had to play a bully match, and managed to enactment coagulated successful nan wind.

"I had immoderate awesome memories from past twelvemonth here, hopefully I tin move this into a bully week."

In nan first competitory singles lucifer betwixt nan compatriots, Harris raced into a 4-1 lead pinch a double break, taking some break points connected connection successful group one.

A grinding opener pinch only 5 winners successful full was successful portion decided by 13 unforced errors from Norrie, who received a wildcard for Eastbourne but was beneath par here, contempt managing to beak Harris' service successful nan eighth game. He besides grounded to deed an ace successful nan 1 hr and 24 infinitesimal encounter.

Harris past collapsed successful seventh crippled of nan 2nd set, and saw disconnected 4 Norrie break points successful nan last crippled arsenic he served for nan match.

Harris will play Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci successful nan 2nd round.

Elsewhere, erstwhile Wimbledon quarter-finalist Bernard Tomic claimed his first triumph successful an ATP arena since 2021.

The 32-year-old Australian, erstwhile classed 17th successful nan world but now languishing down astatine 248, came from down to hit compatriot Rinky Hijikata astatine nan Mallorca Open 3-6 7-5 6-2.

Tomic's cognition has earned him plentifulness of disapproval during his profession arsenic he has often bragged astir his manner and earnings.

However, he is now aiming for a return to nan world's apical 100, and will look Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut next.