Moroccan teen Ahouda upsets Granollers, who is ranked 901 places above him, in Marrakech

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  • Home breakthrough: For Ahouda. (Photo credit: Ouarrak Abdessamiaa)

    Moroccan teenager and world No946 Amine Ahouda pulled off an incredible upset in just the second-ever ATP match of his career by defeating Spain’s No8 seed Marcel Granollers in the first round of the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech on Tuesday.

    The 19-year-old Ahouda, who is ranked 901 spots below Granollers, owns one sole match win on the Challenger tour and was playing just his second ATP tournament, having also received a wildcard in Marrakech last season.

    The North African teen took out Granollers 6-4, 6-4 in one hour, 37 minutes, and next takes on Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round.

    The Casablanca-native turned pro in 2013 and peaked at No82 in the world junior rankings in 2015.

    He grew up shadowing his father, who was a tennis coach at ACSA Casablanca, and says clay is favourite surface.

    Ahouda’s breakthrough victory came on the same day his compatriot world No667 Reda Al Amrani, another local wildcard, made it through to the second round when Federico Delbonis retired after dropping the first set 7-6 (3) and trailing 0-1 in the second.

    Grigor Dimitrov is the top seed in Marrakech this week. He opens his campaign against Tommy Robredo on Thursday.

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