* updated at 7:06 p.m. with Medvedev’s victory

Doha, Qatar) – The two ATP 250 seeds in Doha came out on top in their first matches. Thursday’s round was marked by tough wins for Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

World number 5 and tournament champion in 2020, Rublev had to save three match points in the victory over the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor by 1/6, 6/1 and 7/6 (8-6) in 1h52 from the start. . There were three breaks on each side and the Russian fired ten aces against the Dutchman.

Returning King 👑@AndreyRublev97 saves 3 match points to defeat Griekspoor 1-6 6-1 7-6 💥#qemo2023 pic.twitter.com/6jSIIeJlTa

—Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 22, 2023

After suffering two breaks in the first set and getting two more in the second, the Russian lost the decisive partial by 5/2 but managed to survive the first round to reach the quarter-finals. His next rival is the Czech Jiri Lehecka, who beat the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori by 6/2 and 7/6 (7-2). The only previous duel was won by Rublev last year in Belgrade.

Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Australian Jason Kubler 4/6, 6/1, 6/4. The current number 9 in the ranking will be challenged by the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 31st, who beat the South Korean Soonwoo Kwon by 6/3 and 6/2. The Canadian leads the history of clashes against the Spaniard by 2-0.

LAST EIGHT BOUND 🎱@felixtennis reached the 40th quarter-final of his career after a 4-6 6-1 6-4 win over Kubler 👏#qemo2023 pic.twitter.com/Aezqodevlh

—Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 22, 2023

The last big name to debut was Russian Danill Medvedev, who beat Briton Liam Broady, who dropped out of qualifying, by 6/4 and 6/3. His opponent will be the Australian Christopher O’Connell, when he created a nice surprise and took out the tired Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, fifth seed and double champion in Doha, by 3/6, 7/6 (7-5) and 6/4.

Back in the top 10 of the world rankings, the former number 1 and current eighth place kept the momentum going after winning the title in Rotterdam last Sunday. The 27-year-old now has six consecutive victories on the circuit.