Rublev and Aliassime rotate, Medvedev wins well

Rublev saved three match points in Wednesday’s game in Doha

Photo: Qatar ExxonMobil Open

* 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.

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.

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.

Julia Fleming

"Prone to fits of apathy. Beer evangelist. Incurable coffeeaholic. Internet expert."

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