LOS ANGELES, July 27 (UPI) -- Fifth-seeded Ernests Gulbis returned from an injury Monday and downed Lukas Lacko in the first round of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles.
Gulbis, who hadn't played since May while recovering from a hamstring injury, dispatched Lacko 7-5, 7-5 on the hard courts of the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
The Latvian struck 11 aces and saved five of the six break points he faced while breaking Lacko serve three times in posting the victory.
Rainer Schuettler of Germany made it into the second round by taking his match with seventh-seeded Argentine Horacio Zeballos, who retired with a left shoulder injury while trailing 6-3, 3-0.
No. 6 seed Janko Tipsarevic breezed past Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-1, 6-0, converting on five of his eight break point chances.
