“Coming into this week, I of course have my eyes set on winning the tournament,” he said after his match, which was played in two parts, with covers coming on after a heavy shower hit Paris after the first set. “Especially after doing so well in Australia. It gave me a lot of confidence and really showed me that I’m able to do it.”
Hance will face Turkish qualifier Kaan Isik Kosaner in the third round.
The Torrance, California, native is one of the rare Americans who prefers to play on clay.
When one observes the brand of physicality that he deploys, as well as his groundstrokes, which are laced with scorching topspin, it’s easy to see why he prefers the terre battue.
“I enjoy clay more than any other surface,” he said. “A lot of people are surprised by that because I’m American. But I have spent a lot of time in Orlando, training on the red clay. I’m one of the lucky few Americans who have gotten to play on red clay a lot.”