Zhuhai Open: Kukushkin upsets 5th seed Darderi to reach second round

Mikhail Kukushkin produced the biggest upset so far at the Zhuhai Open by beating fifth seed Malek Jaziri 6-4, 7-5 on Monday.

The Kazakhstani, ranked 73rd in the world, broke the Tunisian's serve three times and saved five of the six break points he faced to reach the second round.

Kukushkin will now face either seventh seed Joao Sousa or qualifier Soonwoo Kwon for a place in the quarterfinals.

Other seeds who advanced to the second round on Monday were eighth seed Adrian Mannarino and ninth seed Andreas Seppi.

Mannarino defeated Chinese wild card Bai Yan 6-3, 6-2, while Seppi beat another Chinese wild card, Zhang Zhizhen, 6-3, 6-4.

The top four seeds - Andy Murray, Borna Coric, Fabio Fognini and Fernando Verdasco - all received byes into the second round.