SA's Harris suffers agonising defeat in China

Cape Town - South Africa's Lloyd Harris suffered an agonising defeat to Australia's Bernard Tomic at the ATP Tour's Chengdu Open in China on Tuesday.

Tomic won a tight three-set battle 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7/6 (8/6) in 2 hours and 11 minutes.

Harris had a match point on his own serve at 6-5 up in the final set tie-break, but surrendered three points in a row to concede the match.

On Monday, Harris achieved his highest ever world ranking of No 129 after recording his first match win on the ATP World Tour.

The 21-year-old defeated fifth seed Gael Monfils of France 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in 88 minutes - his first match win in the main draw of an ATP event.

Last month Harris qualified for his maiden Grand Slam at the US Open at Flushing Meadows, but was beaten in the first round by France's Gilles Simon.

Results of Wednesday's ATP Chengdu Open matches at the Sichuan International Tennis Center (x denotes seed): 

Singles - 1st Round:

Matteo Berrettini (ITA) bt Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) 6-3, 6-4

Singles - 2nd Round: 

Joao Sousa (POR x7) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/0)

Malek Jaziri (TUN) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA x4) 6-3, 7-6 (7/5)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) bt Lloyd Harris (RSA) 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-6 (8/6)

Flix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) bt Hyeon Chung (KOR x2) 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4