Tennis: ITF Futures win keeps hopes alive

Mark Nielsen kept New Zealand hopes alive with a second-round win at the US$10,000 ITF Futures tennis event in Christchurch yesterday.

Nielsen was the only New Zealander of the three in the second round to win. He defeated American qualifier Doug Root 6-2, 6-2 to make the quarter-finals. Eighth-seed Nielsen will play 290th-ranked third seed Kalle Flygt, of Sweden, in the quarter-finals after Flygt beat Wellington's Robbie Cheyne 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. James Shortall lost to Swedish qualifier Fredrik Loven 2-6, 4-6.